REMINISCEI  EES 


OF 


OLD  NEW  UTRECHT 

AND  GOWANUS 


BV 


MRS. -BLEECKER  BANGS 


LIBRARY 

University  of 

California 

Irvine 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

IRVINE 

IN  MEMORY  OF 

Fred  Ventura  Stewart 


REMINISCENCES 

of 

OLD  NEW  UTRECHT 

and  GOWANUS 


By 
MRS.  BLEECKER  BANGS 


N58 
B2 


Copyrighted  by 
Charlotte  Rebecca  Bangs  (Mrs.  Bleecker  Bangs) 

in  accordance  with 

Act  of  Congress  and  Copyright  Law, 

1912 


AUTHOR'S   PREFACE 

IN  presenting  "Reminiscences  of  Old  New  Utrecht," 
which  has  very  naturally  stretched  into  Gowanus 
districts,  the  writer  has  combined  history,  genealogy, 
biography — whatever  relates  to  the  old  Township. 

Starting  the  work  some  twenty  years  ago,  as  a  post- 
script to  the  genealogical  book  "Our  Ancestors,"  as  well 
as  to  considerable  newspaper  work  for  various  editors, 
data  for  this  book  was  sought  from  many  scattered  points. 
Considerable  was  secured  from  the  State  Library  at 
Albany,  fortunately  before  the  great  conflagration  there 
(1911).  Much  was  obtained  from  local  family  treasure 
stores,  in  the  shape  of  old  documents  of  value  (as  relics 
go),  while  files  and  records  have  supplied  data  along 
other  lines.  There  is  doubtless  much  yet  to  be  told  of 
so  historic  a  spot  as  New  Utrecht.  Many  of  the  elderly 
narrators,  whose  facts  and  papers  were  carefully  gathered 
by  me  years  ago,  have  since  passed  from  this  world,  but 
their  histories  are  saved  within  these  pages. 

To  the  kind  friends  and  helpers  in  this  work  of  his- 
tory, the  author  extends  sincere  and  appreciative  thanks. 
There  have  been  so  many  of  them  it  would  be  an  impos- 
sible task  to  name  them  all. 

To  Mr.  George  B.  Cortelyou,  of  Manhattan ;  Mr. 
Charles  M.  Higgins,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  and  Col.  Ezra 
De  Forest,  of  Manhattan,  are  due  thanks  for  lending 
financial  aid  in  the  time  of  need — toward  preserving,  in 
book  form,  these  valuable  records  of  a  part  of  the  history 
of  Brooklyn. 


DEDICATION 

TO  my  Editor-in-Chief,  the  late  Mr.  James  F.  Graham, 
of  the  New  York  World,  whose  discipline  and  train- 
ing, at  an  early  age,  has  been  of  inestimable  benefit 
to  me  in  preparation  of  the  work — to  memories  of  his 
useful,  busy  life,  this  book  is  very  respectfully  dedicated 
by  the  humble  author.    He  allowed  printing  of  tales  of 
old  New  Utrecht  and  of  Gowanus  in  his  paper  when 
history  and  old  things  were  not  fashionable ;  he  had  it 
told  that  at  Gowanus  existed  a  sacred  battle  ground. 

I  was  just  a  pen  scribe.  He  said,  "Go  ahead" — and 
I  have  gone,  into  the  past  to  bring  its  wealth  of  memories 
into  the  present. 

CHARLOTTE  REBECCA  BANGS, 

Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  (Mrs.  Bleecker  Bangs). 

December,  1911. 


CONTENTS 


Colonization  of  Manhatans   (also  Slavery) IO 

Najack  12 

Van  Woerckhoven,  Cornelius 17 

Corteljau,  Jacques 17-19-117 

Settlement  of  New  Utrecht  19 

Nicasius  de  Sille 20-31 

Revolutionary  War  Period 48 

Woodhull,  Gen.  Nathaniel  59 

Denyse  Denyse 61-66-68-124 

Gowanus — (Battle  of  L.  I.) 93 

1800  Period 65 

Bay  Ridge— Yellow  Hoek 71 

Forts  Hamilton  and  Lafayette 85-88 

Gen.  Paul  A.  Oliver 74 

Dr.  A.  N.  Bell 78 

Mayor  George  Hall 79 

Murphy,  Hon.  Henry  C 73 

Langdon,  Col.  Loomis  L 90 

Greater  New  York 85 

I  Reformed  Dutch,  New  Utrecht  Village loo 
Methodist  Episcopal,  Bay  Ridge 108 
St.  John's,  Fort  Hamilton no 
Christ  Church,  Bay  Ridge 115 

Schools  188 

Ferries  185 

Family  of 

Bennett,  130;  Van  Brunt,  132;  Van  Pelt,  138-141;  Bergen,  66,  144;  Cropsey, 
149-153;  Cowenhoven  and  Benson,  159;  Gelston,  162;  Church,  172;  Emans, 
Emmons,  172;  Bogart,  172;  Van  Borculoo-Barkeloo,  174;  Thomas,  175; 
Berier,  173. 


Yellow  Fever,. 
1856 


Books  of  reference  have  been  principally, 
Broadhead's ;  Colonial  History  of  N.  Y. ; 
Fernow's;  Bergen;  Documents  at  Albany  (1906); 
O'Callaghan ;  Johnson. 

Drawings,  by  Miss  Catherine  Bleecker  Bangs, 
Erasmus,  Prof.  Allan  Doggett, 
Adelphi,  Prof.  Whitaker, 
Art  Student's  League,  Manhattan;  DuMond. 


REMINISCENCES  OF  OLD  NEW  UTRECHT 
(AND  GOWANUS) 

NEW  UTRECHT,  named  for  Utrecht  in  Holland,  was  so  wholly  a 
settlement  of  Dutch  pioneers  that  Holland  is  indeed  the  Mother 
country.  The  township  formerly  embraced  the  villages  of  New 
Utrecht,  Bath,  Narrows  (Fort  Hamilton)  and  Yellow  Hook  (Bay 
Ridge).  Its  history  is  one  of  interest  and  of  national  importance. 
"Narrows"  soon  became  the  outer  defence  line  for  New  Amsterdam, 
later  New  York,  with  Fort  Hamilton  a  village  of  Governmental  import- 
ance in  more  recent  years.  The  Colonial,  Revolutionary,  Civil  War  and 
later  date  periods  are  each  filled  with  varying  shades  of  human  life  and 
data.  The  characteristics  of  the  Dutch  lent  itself  almost  entirely  to  the 
Township  of  New  Utrecht. 

THE  ABORIGINES. 

Records  tell  of  the  aborigines  who  were  first  occupants  of  the  for- 
ested lands  on  Long  Island.  Research  proves  that  the  red  man  came 
from  Asia  via  the  Behring  Sea.  But  whatever  his  origin,  he  was  a  dis- 
tinct type  of  human  being,  whom  the  white  man  found  here.  Henry 
Hudson  was  the  first  to  enter  the  Narrows,  with  his  ship  the  "Half 
Moon"  and  its  crew  of  18  men,  Sept.  3,  1609.  Hudson  came  to  "Three 
Great  Rivers,"  meaning  the  Narrows,  Staten  Island  and  Rockaway  Inlet. 
Long  Island  derives  its  name  from  the  European  settlers,  however.  Dur- 
ing 1693  tne  name  changed  from  Indian  dialect  to  "Island  of  Nassau." 
The  Island  measures  about  125  miles  long  and  20  wide.  In  earlier  days 
Long  Island  had  fine  timber  of  white  and  red  oak  trees,  walnut  and 
chestnut.  Its  climate,  being  on  the  coast,  was  often  described  as  "moist 
and  foggy." 

Regarding  the  Indians,  there  were  originally  thirteen  tribes : 
First. — Canansie  (Canarsie) — Inhabiting  the  territory  of  present  Kings 

County  and  a  portion  of  Jamaica. 

Second. — Rockaway — Located  about  Rockaway  and  the  island  nearby. 
Third. — Matinecock — They  dwelt  on  the  north  side,  from  Flushing  to 

Fresh  Pond,  east  of  Huntington. 

Fourth. — Nissequag — Neighborhood  of  Fresh  Pond  to  Stony  Brook. 
Fifth. — Setauket — From  Stony  Brook  to  Wading  River. 
Sixth. — Corchang — Inhabited  township  of  present  Riverhead  and  South 

old  district. 
Seventh  and  Eighth. — Mericoke  and  Marsapeagne — They  dwelt  on  the 

south  side,  from  Rockaway  into  Suffolk  County. 


Ninth. — Secatagne — These  were  east  of  the  last  mentioned  and  extended 

into  the  eastern  part  of  Islip. 
Tenth. — Patchogue — This   tribe   was  on   toward   the   western   part   of 

Southampton. 
Eleventh. — Shinnecock — These  were  about  Canol  Place  and  on  southern 

line,  near  Easthampton. 
Twelfth. — Montauk — Inhabited   Peninsula  of   Montauk,   on   Gardiner's 

Bay  and  nearby  parts. 
Thirteenth. — Manhasset — On  Shelter  Island. 

These  various  tribes  were  under  one  chief  "Sachem  of  Paumanacke" 
or  "Sewanhacka."  The  Montauks  were  the  most  powerful  tribe. 
There  is  small  doubt  in  the  minds  of  those  who  have  studied  earlier 
documentary  evidence  of  troubles  with  Indians,  that  a  large  part  of 
the  trouble  was  because  the  tribes  warred  between  themselves.  It 

V  must  be  related  that  in  many  cases  the  Indians  were  not  justly  treated 
by  those  in  authority.  The  red  man's  tricks  of  deception  and  revenge 
were  often  the  white  man's  fault.  Indians  had  their  ripe  corn  stolen, 
their  pelts  stolen,  their  lands  also.  Colonists  received  the  brunt  of 
that  deep  anger  and  resentment  felt  and  shown  by  the  red  men.  In 
1643  it  was  recorded  that  Long  Island  was  destitute  of  inhabitants 
and  stock,  owing  to  Indian  outbreaks,  while  more  seemed  to  threaten 
elsewhere.  Fort  Amsterdam  was  the  only  safe  place  then.  De  Vries 
was  the  only  white  man  the  Indians  had  respect  for.  His  word 
alone  was  accepted  by  the  Indians  as  voucher  for  truth  and  honest 
dealings.  De  Vries  came  from  the  Netherlands  in  1638  and  settled 
on  Long  Island.  He  was  on  friendly  terms  with  the  Indians,  with 
whom  he  invariably  dealt  fairly.  In  1644-45-53,  peace  was  established. 
There  were  no  wars  of  large  proportion.  It  is  certain  that  the  white 
settlers  on  Long  Island  had  less  trouble  with  Indians  than  had 
Colonists  in  settlements  elsewhere.  One  Dutch  document  distinctly 
recommends  "that  the  policies  of  the  Long  Island  settlers,  in  dealing 
with  the  Indians,  be  more  advantageously  followed  by  distant  colon- 
ists." Of  the  Indians  it  is  told  they  were  devout  worshippers  of  the 
Great  Spirit.  Hundreds  of  dead  Indians  are  buried  near  Montauk 
Point,  where  existed  the  sacred  cemetery  for  their  departed  hosts. 

«•  The  last  of  the  Montauk  tribe,  Henry  Green,  was  admitted  to  Sailors 
Snug  Harbor,  S.  I.,  on  December  13,  1907,  and  died  there  March  24, 
1910.  He  was  old,  feeble  and  had  no  home.  New  York  City,  having 
no  institution  for  aged  Indians,  was  compelled  to  make  a  special 
exception  in  his  case  and  so  placed  him  with  the  old  sailors  on  Staten 
Island. 

8 


Indian  money,  which  was  the  kind  necessary  to  use  in  those  days, 
was  called  "Wampun  peage,"  or  "Sewant."  Wampun  was  really 
beads  that  had  been  perforated.  They  were  black  or  white,  A  shell 
fish  called  "Quahang"  or  Whelk  supplied  the  black  beads,  the  white 
ones  being  made  from  "Periwinkle."  Wampun  money  was  certainly 
not  an  attractive  looking  commercial  basis.  When  the  ugly  Wampun 
was  introduced  to  the  New  England  Colonists,  1627  (whose  rigid 
cleanliness  was  part  of  them),  Isaac  deRazieres  was  told  "It  is  the 
Devil's  work  and  money."  They  would  not  accept  it.  The  Dutch, 
however,  became  more  adaptable  to  Indian  methods,  which  accounts 
for  less  friction  between  them  as  to  trading.  Manhattan  Trading 
Posts  became  the  centers  of  activity.  Thus  was  a  solid  foundation 
laid  for  New  Amsterdam,  later  New  York.  The  Indians  are  charged 
with  having  sold  lands  over  and  over  again,  but  it  should  be  remem- 
bered the  red  man  had  excellent  opportunity  for  observing  that  the 
white  man  often  sejzed  and  held  land  not  his.  \  Much  trouble  arose 
between  the  West  India  Company  and  those  who  took  patents  for  land, 
toward  a  patroon  system  of  their  own,  directly  opposing  what  the 
company  demanded  of  their  Colonists.  The  Indian  was  quick  to 
imitate  transfers  and  sales.  This  imitation  should  not  be  put  down 
to  his  discredit.  Court  records  at  Albany,  for  Colonial  period,  prove 
grievous  troubles  over  lands.  Where  Indians  effected  friendly  rela- 
tions with  the  white  settlers,  no  trouble  ensued.  In  fact,  the  Indian 
has  been  proved  a  true  and  lojal  friend  of  the  white  man.  \  Massacres 
of  settlers  occurred  in  districts  apart  from  Long  Island.  New  Utrecht 
has  no  record  of  any  dire  battle  or  massacre,  much  to  the  credit  of 
its  founder,  Jacques  Corteljau,  and  the  Dutch  settlers  there.  Jacques 
Corteljau  was  fair  and  just  to  the  red  man  whom  he  found  on  Najack 
lands ;  they  never  troubled  him.  Elsewhere  things  are  not  so"  on 
record.  As  churches  were  a  first  consideration  for  the  Colonist,  so 
were  church  bells  used  for  a  general  signal  in  case  of  distress.  The 
Director  General  granted  a  bell  for  Fort  Orange,  Beverwyck,  Hemp- 
stead  and  Midwout,  per  letter  sent  December  16,  1656,  promising  the 
bell  the  following  spring.  The  Breucklen  bell  would  be  sent  at  once, 
per  letter  December  24,  1660.  To  have  a  church  bell  was  both  a 
privilege  and  comfort.  These  bells  have  been  cherished,  in  many 
instances,  and  are  today  used  on  more  modern  edifices  of  the  same 
established  church. 

Manhattan's  first  clergyman,  Rev.  Everardus  Bogardus,  as  well 
as  the  first  schoolmaster,  Mr.  Adam  Roelandsen,  came  to  New  Nether- 
lands from  Holland,  April,  1633.  Before  that,  the  church  ritual  was 
read  each  Sunday  by  the  Commissioner  of  the  Colony. 


COLONIZATION  OF  MANHATANS. 

In  the  spring  of  1623  the  first  colonization  of  Manhatans  occurred. 
The  West  India  Company's  ship  "New  Netherland,"  of  260  tons 
burden,  entered  the  harbor,  having  on  board  30  families.  This 
expedition  was  in  charge  of  Cornells  Jacobson  May.  The  Colony 
was  established  under  the  same  name  "New  Netherland."  May 
served  one  year,  being  succeeded  by  Adriaen  Joris,  who  in  turn  was 
succeeded  by  William  Verholst,  rated  the  second  Director  of  New 
Netherland.  He  served  only  a  year,  then  returned  to  Holland.  The 
Colony  numbered  about  200  people.  Next  came  Peter  Minuit;  in 
1633  Wouter  Van  Twiller.  In  1637-8  jt  was  William  Kieft ;  in  May, 
1647,  Peter  Stuyvesant  became  Director  General.  Then  came  English 
rule,  under  Governor  Nicolls.  Such  is  a  brief  recital  of  New  Nether- 
lands growth.  Peter  Stuyvesant,  last  of  the  Dutch  Governors,  died 
in  New  York,  1682,  aged  80  years.  Naturally,  the  central  point  of 
colonization  at  Manhatans  had  great  bearing  upon  the  Long  Island 
Colonies,  hence  the  reference.  Establishment  of  a  redoubt  or  fort, 
one  of  the  earliest  necessities,  was  upon  lands  at  New  Utrecht.  This 
is  dealt  with  under  the  caption  of  Forts. 

One  important  feature  of  the  colonies  should  not  be  overlooked, 
that  of  needed  help  for  agricultural  purposes.  To  this  end,  the  West 
India  Co.  dealt  in  slave  traffic,  as  so  much  merchandise  or  general 
utility  goods. 

SLAVERY. 

In  Colonial  times,  ownership  of  slaves  was  a  perfectly  legitimate 
business.  Permission  was  given  for  such  slavery.  The  first  slaves 
came  from  Africa,  1652.  Virginia,  like  New  Netherland,  had  slaves. 
Under  letter  September  20,  1660,  the  Directors  in  Holland  wrote  to 
Governor  Stuyvesant  telling  of  negro  slaves  on  the  ship  "Eycksen- 
boom"  and  which  "are  to  be  sold  at  public  auction  upon  their  arrival." 

Cormeline,  on  the  African  Coast,  was  where  many  slaves  came 
from.  It  must  be  recorded,  alas,  that  the  white  owners  of  these  unfor- 
tunate black  men  and  women,  were  not  always  kind  to  them.  Slaves 
were  valuable  properties.  Lest  these  properties  should  escape,  iron 
collars  were  made  and  sent  to  put  on  the  neck  of  the  slave,  the  collar 
often  bearing  the  owner's  name,  or  initials.  Each  night  the  slaves 
were  chained  fast,  whether  it  be  in  the  slave  kitchen,  cellar,  or  out 
house.  Pieces  of  these  chains  have  been  found  when  some  of  the 
old  time  farmhouses  were  being  demolished.  In  1665  Negro  slavery 
was  flourishing,  North  and  South.  In  1711  the  Negroes  endeavored 
to  strike  for  freedom  but  were  not  successful.  Instead,  they  were 

10 


punished  in  various  ways,  often  by  torture.  The  Dutch  had  a  success- 
ful slave  trade  on  the  coast  of  Guinea,  but  with  plots  to  murder, 
secretly  arranged  by  some  of  the  Spanish  Negroes  and  other  Negroes 
intriguing  underhandedly  with  the  wily  Indians,  the  Hollanders'  instinct- 
ive mind  realized  that  Negro  slavery  was  not  only  too  dangerous 
but  it  was  also  wrong.  Their  strict  church  catechism  aided  toward 
this  decision.  The  Dutch  were  a  religious  people  but  never  narrow 
in  their  creed.  Their  slavery  was  voluntarily  abandoned,  gradually 
•  but  surely.  During  1824  to  1826  traffic  in  Negroes  ceased  on  Long 
Island  and  in  New  Utrecht.  The  slavery  question  between  North 
and  South  (1861-1865)  became  a  burning  issue,  which- history  relates 
in  detail.  It  is  not  known  how  passage  money  to  New  Netherland 
was  arranged  for  these  blackmen,  but  it  is  believed  the  West  India 
Company  paid  such  expenses,  not  the  purchasers.  Of  white  Colonists 
who  came  bonded,  a  letter  from  the  Directors  at  Amsterdam  to  Stuy- 
vesant,  December  22,  1657,  reads :  "Record  must  be  kept  of  all  people 
whom  the  company  brings  over  at  our  expense,  although  they  are 
not  in  our  service  and  each  person  must  be  charged  on  his  act,  with 
36  fl.,  Holland  money,  for  passage,  children  under  ten  years  half  as 
much,  infants  nothing,  and  payment  must  be  demanded  when  these 
persons  desire  to  leave  there.  Strict  attention  must  be  paid  to  this, 
that  the  company  does  not  suffer  loss." 

About  the  same  time  it  was  told  that  "a  box  of  silkworm  eggs 
were  sent  for  distribution  among  the  colonists,  who  understood  the 
business,  so  results  might  be  obtained." 

There  must  have  been  great  virtue  in  home  made  cure  for  ills, 
because  on  September  17,  1659,  Governor  Peter  Stuyvesant  requested 
the  directors  in  Holland  to  send,  immediately,  some  medicinal  seed — 
to  pack  them  in  small  linen  bags,  placed  in  larger  bags  to  be  hung 
in  the  cabin,  or  room  on  quarterdeck,  or  in  the  gunner's  quarters, 
to  be  so  preserved  from  spoiling. 

An  answer  came  December  22,  1659,  stating  "the  seed  would  be 
ordered  from  the  Academical  Gardens  at  Leyden  and  would  be  sent 
herewith."  The  West  India  Company  were  doing  everything  to  pro- 
mote prosperity  in  the  new  colonies.  Colonists  were  expected  to  be 
of  a  type  to  also  help  themselves.  The  matter  of  making  America 
was  a  plain  and  serious  question  of  business  for  the  company.  Profit 
and  loss  side  of  the  ledger  was  a  strict  item.  It  must  be  said  of  the 
colonists  that  they  came,  in  the  majority  of  instances,  to  better  their 
condition.  Their  hardships  in  the  newly  chosen  homes  at  New 
Netherlands  certainly  were  considerable  at  first.  But  pluck  and 
determination  triumphed.  The  catechism  was  a  stern  factor  for  every 
good  Dutchman's  heart  and  home.  The  home  was  supreme.  One 

ii 


old  will  relates  of  having  eleven  catechisms  in  one  household.  The 
family  bible  was  an  institution  during  those  days  of  toil  and  peril. 
As  regards  the  ship  on  which  these  early  settlers  embarked  for 
America,  no  actual  or  complete  list  exists,  as  yet.  Some  of  the  ships 
were:  St.  Jean  Baptiste,  Bonteke  or  Spotted  Cow,  Unity,  Concord, 
D.  Endracht,  Soutberck,  Hope  of  Groeningen,  Hope  of  Omlander,  de 
Jager,  Prins  Willem,  Amsterdam,  Carval,  St.  Martyn,  Hope,  Wesel, 
Omwal,  Falconer,  and  others. 

NAJACK. 

The  first  grant  of  "Najeck"  land  was  to  the  knighted  agent  named 
May,  who,  however,  really  settled  the  Cape  May  locality,  not  "Najeck." 
It  was  Director  General  Kieft  who  granted  the  first  official  patent  for 
"Najeck"  lands,  August,  1639,  to  Anthony  Jansen,  of  Salee.  It  was 
"for  loo  morgens  on  the  day  of  the  North  River,  opposite  Cone 
Islant."  It  stretched  along  the  shore  253  rods,  along  a  bluff  124  rods, 
24  rods  S.,  54  rods  to  the  Strand,  S.  W.  x  W.,  containing  87  morgens. 
Date,  May  27,  1643,  at  Fort  Amsterdam.  The  location  of  his  dwell- 
ing was  near  the  Unionville  line  of  New  Utrecht.  An  old  map  held 
by  the  Title  Guarantee  &  Trust  Co.  bears  out  this  fact.  Anthony 
Jansen,  of  Salee,  was  the  first  settler  in  that  locality.  Some  of  his 
descendants  are  the  Van  Sicklens,  Emmons,  etc.  "Anthony  Jansen, 
from  Salee,  leases  his  bouwery  near  the  Narrows  to  Edmund  Adley, 
who  hired  it  for  four  years,  beginning  last  September,  and  ending 
September  2,  1650.  Anthony  Jansen  is  requested  to  have  a  house  fit 
to  live  in  and  the  lessee  shall  enclose  it  with  posts  and  rails.  Rental 
price  was  200  guilders  for  the  first  year  and  250  the  next  three  years, 
with  five  pounds  of  butter.  Increase  of  cattle  divided  half  and  half. 
Risks  of  keeping  the  cattle  shared  by  lessee  and  lessor.  If  any  die 
the  loss  made  good  from  the  increase.  Inventory  of  goods : 

I  Stallion  12  years  old. 
i        "          3      "        " 

1  Mare         4      "        " 

2  Cows,  good  condition. 
2  new  plows. 

1  Wagon,  i  Harrow  with  iron  teeth. 

2  Spades,  2  scythes,  2  siths  and  hasps, 
i  handsaw,  i  iron  sled,  I  iron  maul. 

1  churn  and  fixtures,  i  axe,  i  cream  pot. 

2  pails,  i  hand  mill,  i  fan,  i  pitchfork. 

3  forks,  3  horse  collars  with  one  long  rope, 
i  carpenters  adze,  i  ditto  axe,  i  sickle. 

i  hook,  i  auger,  i  long  gun." 

12 


Anthony  Jansen  also  promised  to  supply  seed  corn  for  planting. 
The  document  was  signed  September  6,  1646.  Earlier  patents  for 
land  bordering  closely  on  New  Utrecht  limits,  was  in  the  district 
called  Gowanus.  On  April  5,  1642,  Governor  Kieft  granted  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  N.  Y.,  a  patent  for  land  to  Cornelius  Lambertse  Cool, 
"situated  at  Gowanus,  from  the  wagon  road  through  said  land  and 
Jan  Pieterson's  land  along  the  river,  to  a  copse  where  William 
Adriaensen's  land  is  next.  This  land  was  formerly  occupied  by  Jan 
Van  Rotterdam  and  Thomas  Bests  and  paths  shall  remain  open 
with  express  stipulation  and  condition."  (39  Fernow's.) 

This  path  or  wagon  road  was  the  first  thoroughfare  between 
Gowanus  and  the  Narrows. 

Owing  to  trouble  over  land  grants  the  directors  in  Holland 
informed  Governor  Stuyvesant  that  a  New  Netherlands  bureau  would 
be  established  to  check  abuses  in  grants.  Several  conflicts  had  arisen, 
one  between  Baron  Van  der  Capelle  and  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven, 
also  with  Cornelius  Melyn,  whom  it  was  complained  had,  upon  8 
leagues  of  county,  only  settled  5  or  6  living  people.  (This  latter 
referred  to  Staten  Island.)  Baron  Van  der  Capelle  declared  he  had 
given  orders  to  buy  for  his  account,  the  land  Nieuwesinck  and  Rari- 
tans,  back  of  Staten  Island,  which  the  directors  in  Holland  not  know- 
ing of  had  granted  to  Hon.  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven,  "who  goes 
there  with  a  goodly  number  of  souls  to  take  possession"  (April  4, 
1652).  "The  Company  meet  inconveniences,  for  Baron  Capelle 
claimed  to  have  been  proprietor  of  those  lands  for  a  year  or  18  months. 
We  must  say  to  it,"  writes  the  company,  "we  have  had  no  knowledge 
of  it  and  they  must  come  to  an  agreement  among  themselves.  These 
are  the  consequences  of  the  attempt  to  establish  a  government  within 
a  government."  (174,  N.  Y.  Colonial  History,  Vol.  14)  relates,  "We 
alluded  to  the  contest  about  to  arise  between  Baron  Hendrick  Van 
der  Capelle  and  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven  concerning  the  territory 
i^-of  the  Nieuwsinck  and  Raritans.  This  matter  has  gone  so  far  already 
that  they  have  entered  written  protests  against  each  other.  Hon. 
Mr.  Woerckhoven  has  addressed  himself  to  us  and  requested  he 
should  be  supported  in  the  privileges  granted  by  us,  which  we  shall 
find  ourselves  obliged  to  sustain  as  far  as  possible,  that  impjroper 
purchases  of  land  from  the  savages  may  henceforth  be  prevented; 
the  said  Woerckhoven  has  already  petitioned  their  highness  for  the 
above  reasons  and  we  expect  to  see  now  shortly,  what  rules  shall 
be  established  in  these  matters.  Undoubtedly  much  trouble  will  again 
arise  out  of  this  matter,  and  the  evil  minded  will  endeavor  to  throw 
the  blame  for  all  the  disorder  upon  the  directors,  notwithstanding 
that  we  have,  in  this  case,  clear  proof  that  some  of  the  law  makers 

13 


are  the  cause  of  it.    Time  must  show  what  the  result  will  be.    Honor- 
able, worshipful,  etc. 

David  Van  Baerle  The  Directors  of  the  W.  I.  Company 

Jacob  Pergens  Depart,  of  Amsterdam 

4th  of  April,  1652. 

Van  Woerckhoven  intended  becoming  a  patroon,  as  Fort  Orange 
settlement  was  established.  He  abandoned  the  Jersey  land  and 
decided  upon  Najack  alone.  In  accordance  with  rules  of  the  West 
India  Company  he  returned  to  Holland  to  secure  his  settlers.  100 
were  expected,  only  four  years  being  allowed  him  in  which  to  accom- 
plish the  work.  Had  he  succeeded,  New  Utrecht  would  have  resembled 
the  tenured  lands  of  the  Van  Rensellaers  at  Fort  Orange,  N.  Y.,  now 
Albany.  But  according  to  Indian  deeds  for  the  settlement  by  the 
Narrows,  called  "Nayeck,"  the  tract  was  sold  to  Augustin  Heermans, 
land  agent  for  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven,  who  emigrated  from 
Woerckhoven,  Holland  1652.  The  late  Francis  Hopkins,  a  life  long 
resident  of  Fort  Hamilton,  owned  the  original  patent.  The  late  Hon. 
Henry  C.  Murphy,  of  Bay  Ridge,  also  had  papers  telling  of  the  earlier 
patent.  It  comprised  about  180  acres  and  formed  a  part  of  what  is 
now  Fort  Hamilton  Governor  Kieft  granted  a  patent  dated  Novem- 
ber 7,  1651,  but  which  had  been  made  out  September  10,  1645,  the 
date  of  Augustin  Heerman's  transaction  with  the  Indians.  The  deed 
to  Van  Woerckhoven  reads : 

"Today,  the  22d  of  November,  1652,  the  Hon  Cornelius  Van 
Woerckhoven  has  made  over  in  full  and  the  Indians  called  Seisen  and 
Mattano,  Chiefs  and  owners  have  received  for  themselves  and  as  dele- 
gates of  their  friends  and  all  other  claimants,  their  interpreter  and 
attorney  in  this  matter,  the  following  merchandise,  to  wit:  6  shirts, 
2  pairs  of  shoes,  2  scissors,  6  combs,  in  full  and  satisfactory  payment 
for  the  land  lying  Eastward  of  the  North  River,  at  the  Heads,  as  the 
same  has  been  previously  bought  in  behalf  of  the  Hon-bl  Company 
and  for  which  payment  was  to  be  made  yet:  the  said  land  stretching 
from  behind  Mr.  Paulus'  land  called  Gowanus,  across  the  hills  to 

-  Mechawanienck,  lying  on  the  South  East  side  of  Amersfort  and  thence 
past  Gravesend  to  the  sea,  following  the  marks  on  the  trees :  includ- 
ing all  the  land,  hills,  woods,  and  forests,  valleys,  kills,  rivers,  and 
other  waters,  going  Southward  to  the  Bay  and  through  the  Bay  into 
the  sea:  and  the  aforesaid  Indians  do  not  reserve  to  themselves,  their 

1  fellow  owners,  their  successors  and  descendants  any,  not  even  the 
least  claim  or  right  upon  the  said  land  and  its  dependeries,  but 
solemnly  renounce  now  and  forever,  in  behalf  of  the  said  Mr.  Woerck- 
hoven, all  rights,  title,  interest  and  ownership  and  cede  the  same 


herewith,  promising  not  to  do,  nor  allow  to  be  done,  anything  against 
this  deed  of  sale,  which  has  been  executed  and  passed  in  good  faith 
at  New  Amsterdam,  Manhattans,  in  New  Netherlands  and  was  signed 
by  the  Indians  and  Claes  Carstens,  in  the  presence  of  myself.  Dirck 
Van  Schelluyne,  a  Notary  Public  admitted  to  practice  by  their  High- 
ness, the  Lords  States  General  residing  at  New  Amsterdam,  in  New 
Netherlands,  and  of  Yonker  Van  Hattem,  Jan  Vinge,  Nicholas 
Gouwert  as  witness,  who  signed  the  original  hereof  deposited  with 
me,  together  with  the  Indians  and  Claes  Carstens, 

D.  V.  SCHELLUYNE,  Notary  Public 

1652." 

A  land  transaction  prior  to  the  deed  of  November  22,  1652,  veri- 
fies the  original  paper  owned  by  the  late  Mr.  Francis  Hopkins,  which 
paper  the  writer  inspected  some  years  before  his  death.  More,  the 
Hopkins  document  satisfactorily  explains  the  differences  between 
Van  Woerckhoven's  first  land  matters  and  the  1652  final  settlement. 
(190,  Vol.  14,  Colonial  History  relates)  "To-day  the  ist  of  December, 
1652,  the  underwritten  Indians,  Mattano  and  Cossikan  do  consent 
for  themselves  and  as  attorneys  for  all  other  inhabitants  and  sup- 
posed owners  of  the  lands  now  come  into  possession  of  Mr.  Van 
Woerckhoven  by  the  foregoing  act  and  agree  with  the  said  Mr.  Van 
Woerckhoven  that  they,  the  Indians,  shall  receive  from  his  Honor 
six  coats,  6  kettles,  6  axes,  6  hatchets,  6  small  looking  glasses,  12 
knives,  12  combs,  on  condition  that  they,  the  Indians  and  their  decend- 
ants  remove  immediately  from  the  land  now  occupied  by  them,  called 
Naieck,  and  never  return  to  live  in  the  limits  of  the  district,  as 
described  in  the  foregoing,  nor  even  make  any  claim  upon  it.  Done 
at  New  Amsterdam,  in  New  Netherland  in  the  presence  of  the  under- 
signed Notary  Public  and  Jan  Vinie,  who  has  herein  acted  as  inter- 
preter for  the  Indians  and  of  Thomas  Roechtsen  as  witness.  Signed 
the  mark  of  the  Indian  Mattano,  the  mark  of  the  Indian  Cossikan. 

C.  VAN  WOERCKHOVEN,  Jan  Vinge, 

D.  VAN  SCHELLUYNE,  Notary  Public, 

1652. 

SECOND  HOUSE  AT  NAJACK. 

"Van  Woerckhoven's  house  was  the  second  one  built  at  Najack. 
It  was  located  where  the  John  C.  Bennett  house  stood.  Gov.  Peter 
Stuyvesant  signed  appointment  papers  of  Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven  as 
delegate  to  the  High  Council  at  New  Amsterdam,  November  24,  1653." 
(219,  223  Col.  His.  of  N.  Y.) 

15 


"November  25,  1653,  there  was  a  conference  regarding  sale  of 
goods  and  prices  for  storekeepers  at  New  Amsterdam.  The  council 
present  included  Director  General,  Mr.  Nicasuis  de  Sille,  also  Mr. 
Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven,  who  met  at  Fort  Amsterdam. 

Present  Gov.   P.  Stuyvesant, 
Niciasus  de  Sille,  C.   Van  Woerckhoven, 

La  Montague,  C.  Van  Tienhoven." 

From  Council  Minutes.    New  Amsterdam,  June  13,  1654. 

The  minutes  of  this  meeting  told  of  preparations  for  defence  by 
the  inhabitants.  Plans  of  the  English  were  told  to  the  following  Dutch 
subjects :  Covert  Loockermans,  Pieter  Wolfertson,  Jacob  van  Couwen- 
hoven  and  Jacques  Corteljau,  tutor  to  Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven's  son, 
who  reported  that  the  English  at  the  north  "recruit  soldiers,  giving 
25  to  30  guilders  per  month  and  that  three  large  ships  were  to  come 
into  the  Bay  or  Cape,  to  cut  off  retreat;  also  that  soldiers  in  boats 
would  land  near  Hellegat,  to  demand  surrender  of  the  fort  and  offer 
good  conditions;  that  the  country  people  on  Long  Island  should 
remain  in  possession  of  their  property  without  molestation" — all  this 
the  men  before  mentioned,  reported  to  the  Director  General  and 
council. 

Plans  were  accordingly  made  for  proper  defences.  (272,  Colonial 
History,  N.  Y.,  No.  14.) 

Upon  a  request  of  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  to  summon  dele- 
gates from  all  the  Dutch  towns  and  villages,  November  29,  1653, 
Ensign  George  Baxter  and  English  delegates  would  not  ask  Mr.  Van 
Woerckhoven  as  delegate.  No  reason  was  given  for  this.  It  may  be 
accounted  for,  however,  from  the  fact  that  Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven 
was  delegated  to  stop  all  English  robberies,  pirates,  etc.  (page  199). 
Among  those  who  contributed  toward  repairs  for  the  defence  of  New 
Amsterdam  March  13,  1653,  was  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven  £200, 
Jacob  Van  Couvenhoven  £150,  Peter  Buys  £100,  and  P.  Van  Couven- 
hoven  £100. 

MARRIAGE   BANS. 

It  is  related  in  a  letter  that  marriage  bans  must  be  published 
three  weeks  in  advance  of  the  ceremony;  so  ordered  by  the  Magis- 
trates. 

P.  Stuyvesant, 
Nicasius  de  Sille, 
C.  Van  Woerckhoven, 
La  Montagne. 
Dated  at  New  Amsterdam,  February  10,  1654. 

16 


(Fernow's,  272)  Mention  is  made  of  Mr.  Jacques  Corteljau,  tutor 
to  Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven's  son,  June  13,  1654  (page  280).  It  is  told 
that  Jacques  Corteljau  was  appointed  sheriff,  July  21,  1654,  consider- 
ing his  good  reputation  and  knowledge  of  him,  late  tutor  to  son  of 
Hon.  Van  Woerckhoven.  N.  B.  It  adds  that  as  Corteljau  finds  him- 
self aggrieved  by  instructions  given  him,  the  appointment  is  delayed 
until  another  person  is  found. 

(Colonial  History,  293)  It  is  interesting  to  note  that  at  a  request 
for  appointment  of  a  "Schout,"  to  complete  the  Court  according  to 
the  Lords  Directors,  the  Burgomasters  and  Schepens  are  declared  right 
in  stating  that  at  the  urgent  request  of  Mr  Van  Woerckhoven,  they 
intended  to  commission  Jacques  Corteljau  for  the  place,  who,  how- 
ever, felt  aggrieved  by  instructions  and  so  the  matter  was  deferred. 
Dated  September  16,  1654,  at  New  Amsterdam.  Two  points  are 
called  to  the  attention  of  the  reader,  first,  that  Colonial  records  prove 
Jacques  Corteljau  to  have  been  of  good  business  reputation;  second, 
that  Van  Woerckhoven  himself  recommended  the  appointment. 
These  facts  are  interesting  and  important  inasmuch  as  Corteljau  has 
been  accused  of  having,  later  on,  confiscated  Van  Woerckhoven's 
estate,  a  charge  without  proper  foundation  or  proof  of  guilt.  On  the 
other  hand  everything  has  been  proved  of  credit  to  Corteljau.  All 
stories  of  so  called  "graft"  were  no  doubt  founded  upon  a  wrong  con- 
ception of  historical  data,  with  great  injustice  to  Corteljau.  Mr. 
Van  Woerckhoven  returned  to  Holland,  1654,  leaving  Corteljau  his 
agent,  as  well  as  guardian  to  his  children. 

DEATH    OF    VAN    WOERCKHOVEN,  1655. 

Van  Woerckhoven,  however,  never  completed  his  patroon  idea 
for  the  Najack  settlement.  He  died  in  Holland,  1655.  A  document 
relates  of  Holland  matters  in  America: 

"Two  separate  ground  briefs  of  land,  apparently  bought  on  Long 
Island  by  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven,  who  died  last  year,  for  which 
the  guardians  of  his  minor  children  have  asked  our  consent  and 
approval.  We  refused,  partly  because  the  ground  briefs  were  executed 
privately  before  the  Notary  Schelluyne,  contrary  to  the  Company's 
orders,  partly  because  we  wished  first  to  have  your  opinion  about  it 
and  we  await  your  report  on  the  quantity  and  quality  of  the  land ; 
how  much  land  they  can  keep  in  good  order  and  cultivate  and  every- 
thing else  relating  to  it.  We  expect  to  receive  this  information  by 
the  first  opportunity,  so  that  we  can  give  a  final  decision.  As  the 
said  guardians  are  now  sending  over  their  Attorney's  to  manage  the 
affairs  of  the  late  Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven  and  have  asked  for  letters 


of  recommendation  for  them,  we  could  not  well  refuse  their  request 
and  recommend  that  in  everything  just  and  fair  you  assist  them, 
without,  however,  granting  them  more  land  or  allowing  them  to  enter 
upon  more,  than  for  which  proper  papers  of  conveyance  have  been 
presented  before  the  Director  and  Council  there,  as  usual  pursuant 
to  the  company's  rules." 

The  same  letter  mentions  about  Staten  Island  and  Cornelius 
Melyn,  who  was  then  negotiating  to  sell  it,  not  subject  to  the  Com- 
pany's jurisdiction.  It  was  said  "to  arrest  Melyn  and  send  him, 
well  treated,  but  secure,  to  this  country  (meaning  Holland)  if  rumor 
of  the  Staten  Island  sale  proves  to  be  true." 

From  these  business  difficulties  it  is  realized  the  West  India 
Company  had  troubles  to  meet  and  conquer. 

Jacques  Corteljau,  agent  for  Van  Woerckhoven,  at  this  time  resided 
at  Najack.  It  is  so  stated  in  an  order,  August  23,  1656,  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  wherein  Mr.  Corteljau  was  detailed  to  "survey  the 
patents  of  Anthony  Jansen  and  Robert  Pennoyer,  also  the  meadow 
land  of  Brendenbent."  After  doing  this  he  was  to  "draw  a  line  from 
the  Kil,  to  the  Eastermost  point  of  Jansen's  land,  where  it  touches 
the  Westermost  point  of  Pennoyer's."  This  was  the  boundary  line 
of  Gravesend.  (365,  Fernow's.) 


f 


The  next  heard  of  Mr.  Corteljau  is  under  date  of  January  16, 
when  he  petitioned,  as  agent  of  the  heirs  of  Cornelius  Van 
Woerckhoven,  deceased,  to  plant  a  village  on  Long  Island,  on  the 
bay  of  the  North  River.  This  petition  was  sent  to  the  Director 
General  and  council  of  New  Netherland,  they  receiving  it  under  the 
decree  "Fiat  ut  petitur,"  provided  that  a  plan  be  submitted  to  the 
directors  at  the  first  opportunity.  (Fernow's,  383.)  Also  that  Cortel- 
jau make  a  map  of  New  Amsterdam.  This  he  did.  (Brooklyn  Hall  of 
Records,  Document  of  de  Sille.)  This  was  the  first  map  ever  made 
of  New  Amsterdam  and  so  settles  many  arguments  on  this  point. 

18 


SETTLEMENT  OF  NEW  UTRECHT. 

The  petition  was  granted  by  Governor  Stuyvesant  August  27, 
^57,  when  a  newly  begun  village  is  mentioned,  land  described  on 
the  east  hook  of  the  bay  of  the  North  River,  opposite  Coney  Island, 
containing  all  the  kils,  creeks,  swamps  and  marshes,  drowned  and 
sandy  lands,  130  morgens  bounded  on  the  west  by  land  of  Anthony 
Jansen,  of  Salee,  northeast  by  the  kil,  upon  which  stands  the  Mill 
of  Gravesend,  east,  southeast  and  south  by  the  same  kil,  southwest 
by  the  bay  of  the  North  River.  Dated  August  27,  1657. 

This  land  was  bounded  north  by  Breucklen  and  Flatbush,  east  by 
Gravesend,  west  and  south  by  Gravesend  Bay  and  the  Narrows.  It 
was  named  "New  Utrecht." 

While  the  land  between  Gowanus,  "Najeck"  and  Gravesend  was 
populated  by  about  35  persons,  1647  to  l^5°>  in  1698  there  were  259 
persons,  48  being  slaves. 

The  new  village  started  by  Jacques  Corteljau,  as  agent  for 
Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven,  deceased,  was  the  natural  work  for 
Mr.  Corteljau  to  undertake.  Land  on  this  patent  was  divided  into 
20  plots  of  50  acres  each,  given  to  the  following  colonists: 

Jacques  Corteljau  Jans  Jacobsen 

Nicasius  de  Sille  Pieter  Jansen 

(Heer  Councillor  and  Fiscaal)  Huybert  Stoock 

Peter  Buys  William  Willemse  (Van  Engen) 

Jacob  Swarthout  (or  Hellakers)  Albert  Albertse  (Terhune) 

Jacobus  Corlair  Johan  Zeelen 

Teunis  Joosten  Cornelius  Beekman 

Claes  Claessen  Rutger  Joosten  (Van  Brunt) 

Jacob  Peterse  Johann  Tomasse  (Van  Dyke) 

Jacobus  Backer  Pieter  Roelefsen 
No.  20  was  held  for  the  poor. 

Mr.  Van  Woerckhoven  left  some  debts  which,  per  suit  instituted 
in  1658,  were  settled  by  Jacques  Corteljau.  Mr.  Corteljau  was  in 
control  of  Van  Woerckhoven's  estate,  not  any  guardian  or  Holland 
attorneys,  as  indicated  in  the  directors'  letter  to  Governor  Stuyvesant, 
June  14,  1656.  Either  the  Holland  guardians  did  not  come,  as  pre- 
viously threatened,  or  adjustment  was  made  of  Van  Woerckhoven's 
estate  matters,  leaving  Corteljau  in  control.  Among  the  first  settlers 
on  his  New  Utrecht  patent  was  Jacob  Hellakers,  a  carpenter,  who 
built  three  houses  during  1658,  the  Van  Brunt,  de  Sille  and  Buys. 
The  Van  Brunt  house  still  stands  intact,  the  oldest  in  New  Utrecht. 

19 


NICASIUS  DE  SILLE. 

Nicasius  de  Sille  was  a  man  of  note.  He  emigrated  to  New 
Amsterdam,  1653,  and  was  Councilor  under  Governor  Stuyvesant. 
His  New  Utrecht  home  was  the  first  one  covered  with  red  tiles 
brought  from  Holland.  Its  location  was  south  east  of  the  first  Dutch 
Church  in  New  Utrecht  village.  History  makes  the  place  famous 
because  within  its  walls  Gen.  Nathaniel  Woodhull,  hero  and  martyr 
of  1776  war,  being  mortally  wounded,  was  carried  there  to  die.  Much 
is  related  of  Mr.  de  Sille's  abilities  as  a  scholar;  he  also  wrote  con- 
siderable history  of  the  Najeck  lands  up  to  1660.* 

During  the  settlement  of  New  Utrecht  Mr.  de  Sille  had  many 
opportunities  for  learning  of  the  company's  land  troubles,  one  arising 
August  13,  1658,  from  Anthony  Jansen,  of  Salee,  who  complained  in 
a  petition  that  the  meadow  granted  to  the  new  village  of  New  Utrecht 
had  been  bought  by  him  from  the  Indians  and  paid  for  September  26, 
1651.  He  requested  the  part  near  his  house  be  given  him.  The 
matter  was  to  be  placed  in  the  hands  of  the  people  of  Utrecht  and 
if  found  the  petitioner  had  no  meadow  for  making  hay,  a  part  of 
the  aforesaid  land  should  be  given  to  him,  as  to  others. 

Still  another  petition  was  sent  the  Director  General  of  New 
Netherlands,  by  Jan  Zeelen  that  "he  should  receive  a  patent  for  a 
parcel  of  land,  No.  18,  taken  up  by  Peter  Roeloffs  but  abandoned  by 
and  sold  to  Zeelen  because  Roeloffs  and  his  family  have  moved  to 
Amersfort."  The  reply  was  that  if  the  request  were  true  the  peti- 
tion would  be  granted,  which  was  done  January  16,  1660.  About 
this  time  matters  of  education  for  Long  Island  were  being  under- 
taken. 

A  petition  from  Jan  Lubberts  to  the  directors,  request  their  con- 
sent to  open  a  school  for  instruction  in  reading,  writing  and  arithmetic 
for  Breucklen.  It  was  answered  August  13,  1658,  "the  request 
granted,  providing  he  behaved  as  such  a  person  ought  to  behave." 

Another  appointment  during  1658  was  by  order  of  the  council 
and  Director  General  of  New  Netherland  when  Teunis  Nysen  and 
Peter  Monfort  were  made  "Schepens."  March  26,  1658. 

During  the  year  1659  the  de  Sille  house,  being  so  shortly  built, 
was  fortified  for  use  of  the  settlers  against  attacks  by  the  Indians. 
It  was  then  that  a  sheriff  and  a  sergeant  were  appointed,  Mr.  de  Sille 
and  Jan  Tomasse  respectively.  During  1660  Jacobus  Van  Corlear 
and  Jan  Tomasse  were  made  magistrates.  There  were  then  eleven 
houses  in  the  settlement  called  New  Utrecht. 

*  NOTE — This  document  is  in  the  Hall  of  Records,  B'klyn,  a  treasured  relic.  Mr. 
de  Sille  was  of  poetic  talent  and  left  verses  as  well.  His  history  of  New  Utrecht, 
to  1660,  transcribed  in  English,  is  here  embodied  and  correct. 

20 


NEW  UTRECHT'S  FIRST  PATRIOTIC  CELEBRATION. 

The  first  flag  raised  for  a  festive  occasion,  was  when  Director 
General  Pieter  Stuyvesant,  of  New  Amsterdam,  visited  the  Colony, 
February  6,  1660.  The  flag  of  orange  floated  from  the  center  of  the 
settlement.  He  dined  at  Rutgert  Joosten  Van  Brunt's  home.  This 
was  the  first  celebration  of  any  kind  for  the  settlement.  Soon  after, 
Governor  Stuyvesant  ordered  a  new  block  house  built  and  trees  cut 
down,  in  order  that  no  hiding  places  might  exist  for  the  Indians  in 
case  of  sudden  attacks.  He  also  warned  those  residing  outside  the 
village  to  abandon  their  homes  and  seek  more  safe  quarters  in  the 
block  house,  or  village.  A  public  pound  was  established  and  a  mill 
considered,  with  a  half  dozen  shackles  and  lock,  for  use  in  punishing 
misdemeanor.  This  is  the  first  statement  of  any  legal  steps  toward 
a  jail.  During  1660-1661,  a  court  of  justice  was  declared  for  the  town. 
Adrian  Hegeman,  of  Flatbush,  was  Schout,  Rutgert  Joosten,  Jan 
Tomasse,  and  Jacob  Hellakers  (or  Swartont)  were  Commissioners. 

It  will  be  realized  from  these  events  in  the  chronicles  of  New 
Utrecht  that  the  West  India  Company  had  plenty  of  land  troubles 
to  manage.  Mr.  de  Sille  appeared  to  be  a  man  of  public  enterprise 
and  held  responsible  office.  Under  letter  dated  February  23,  1660, 
he  was  appointed  councillor  and  fiscal  of  New  Netherlands,  in  order 
to  "quickly  have  the  lately  formed  villages  of  Breucklen  and  New 
Utrecht  surveyed,  enclosed  with  pallisades  and  put  in  a  good  state 
of  defence,  as  he  shall  think  best  for  the  public  good,  and  the  inhab- 
itants especially."  The  Director  General  deemed  this  highly  neces- 
sary. 

A  letter  from  de  Sille  followed  soon  after:  "To  the  Noble,  Very 
Worshipful,  Honorable  Director  General  and  Council  of  New  Nether- 
lands. 

Respectfully  show  the  good  inhabitants  of  the  village  of  New 
Utrecht  that  there  are  some  evil  minded  persons  in  their  midst  and 
some  are  absent,  who  will  neither  follow  advice  nor  continue,  like 
the  well  disposed,  but  who  always  oppose  the  well  disposed,  flocking 
together  riotously,  even  refuse  to  obey  the  agent,  Jan  Tomassen,  of 
which  we  informed  Your  Honors  some  time  ago  and  have  several 
times  written  complaining  of  the  great  damage  and  troubles  caused 
by  horses,  cattle  and  hogs ;  also  that  they  will  not  listen  to  either 
Jacob  Van  Corlear  or  Jan  Tomassen  concerning  the  cutting  of  the 
pallisades.  We  therefore  humbly  request  that  your  Honors  will 
please  send  over,  as  promised,  some  negroes  and  also  favor  us  of 
the  newly  planted  village  of  New  Utrecht,  by  approving  the  enclosed 
Ordinance  or  by  passing  such  laws  as  your  Honors  shall  think  we 

21 


require.    Which  doing,  etc.,  in  the  name  of  the  good  inhabitants  of 
the  village  of  New  Utrecht, 

Your  Honor's  Servant, 


This  was  not  the  only  case  of  trouble.  Jacques  Corteljau,  founder 
of  New  Utrecht,  was  having  plenty. 

In  a  letter  to  the  Director  General  and  council  of  New  Netherland, 
which  arrived  per  ship  "Trouw,"  April  5,  1659,  word  was  sent  that 
Van  Woerckhoven's  children  asked  an  accounting  from  Jacques 
Corteljau  of  their  father's  estate.  The  directors  of  the  West  India 
Company,  Department  of  Amsterdam,  wrote,  under  date  December 
22,  1659,  the  following  about  Corteljau.  "The  children  and  heirs 
of  the  late  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven  have  represented  to  us  in 
whose  charge  as  agent  their  father,  before  leaving  New  Netherland 
left  all  his  land,  houses,  cattle,  furniture  and  merchandise,  refuses 
now  to  give  an  accounting  of  his  administration  to  their  attorney 
and  tries  to  delay  it  under  various  frivilous  pretexts  while  he  enjoys 
the  profits  of  the  estate,  left  to  them  by  their  father.  They  request 
us  to  write  to  you  desiring  your  assistance  in  maintaining  their  right 
in  having  the  business  speedily  closed  up  under  all  circumstances. 
We  could  not  well  refuse  it  and  therefore  urge  you  to  take  good 
notice  of  this  case  when  it  comes  before  you  and  to  decide  it  as 
speedily  as  justice  and  equity  admit."  Dated  December  22,  1659,  at 
Amsterdam,  Holland. 

From  this  missive  it  is  clear  the  attorneys  and  guardians  did  not 
visit  America  to  manage  the  Van  Woerckhoven  estate,  as  a  previous 
Director  General  letter  indicated  might  happen. 

Correspondence  from  the  company's  New  Netherland  office  to 
the  directors  in  Holland,  follows: 

"The  last  point  in  your  Honor's  letter  requiring  a  reply  is  your 
repeated  instruction  concerning  the  heirs  of  Cornelius  Van  Woerck- 
hoven. As  yet  we  can  only  state  what  we  have  already  said  and 
written,  that  as  soon  as  somebody  appears  who  shall  sue  Jacques 
Corteljau  in  their  behalf,  we  shall  administer  the  law  equitably  and 
fairly,  after  having  heard  the  parties."  Fort  Amsterdam,  April  21, 
1660.  (472,  Fernow's.) 

22 


From  this  missive  it  is  evident  that  nobody  appeared  from  Holland 
to  sue  Jacques  Corteljau.  On  the  contrary,  the  Director  General  and 
council  of  New  Netherlands  appointed  and  commissioned  Mr.  Cor- 
teljau, the  surveyor,  with  Albert  Corselissen  and  Jan  Everetsen  Bout, 
to  make  a  personal  inspection  of  the  situation  and  quality  of  land  in 
the  village  of  Breucklen ;  how  many  plantations  might  be  planted  there 
and  which  was  the  best  locality  for  farms.  After  such  inspection  they 
were  to  deliver  the  map  made  and  report  to  the  directors  and  council. 
Dated  at  Fort  Amsterdam,  May  3,  1660.  A  map  of  New  Amsterdam, 
the  first  made,  was  by  Corteljau.  It  was  lost  in  the  Albany  fire, 
March,  1911. 

On  June  15,  1662,  Mr.  Corteljau  was  authorized  to  proceed  to 
survey  and  divide  the  meadows  pursuant  to  the  partition  made  by 
the  Board,  to  wit:  for  the  village  of  Breucklen  100  Morgans,  for 
the  village  of  Middleborgh  80  morgans,  for  the  bouweries  at  Mespath 
80  morgans. 

A   letter  of  interest  because   it   deals   with   earlier   land   matters 
is  taken  from  a  council  minutes: 

"To  the  Noble,  Honorable  Director  General  and  Council  of  New 
Netherland :  Respectively  show  Jan  Tomassen,  Jacob  Swart  and 
Rutger  Joosten,  commissaries  of  the  village  of  New  Utrecht ;  whereas 
Nicholas  Stillwell  has  presumed  to  take  to  himself  a  greater  share 
of  meadowland  than  belongs  to  12  morgans  of  arable  land,  under 
pretext  that  he  owns  12  morgans  of  land  between  two  meadows. 
Therefore  the  petitioners,  in  their  aforesaid  quality,  turn  to  your 
Honor's  with  the  humble  request  that  first  the  12  morgans  of  land, 
lying  between  the  two  villages,  shall  be  surveyed  and  measured  by 
the  Surveyor,  Jacques  Corteljau,  for  the  said  Nicholas  Stillwell  at 
the  expense  of  your  petitioners  and  that  he  shall  receive  of  the 
meadows,  surrounding  his  12  morgans,  as  much  as  was  granted  to 
him,  provided  that  the  balance  be  divided  by  the  Surveyor  in  the 
proportion  in  which  it  was  granted  to  the  village  of  New  Utrecht 
and  Najeck.  Also  that  your  Honor's  will  charge  and  order  said 
Stillwell,  in  the  name  of  the  Government  to  take  away  all  obstruc- 
tions and  hindrances  under  a  certain  penalty  and  to  respect  the 
limits  determined  by  the  Surveyor  and  your  Honor's  orders. 
Your  Honor's  Humble  servants 
JAN  TOMASSEN 

JACOB  HOLLEKERS  (SWARTONT) 
Thursday,  August  24,   1662.  RUTGERT  JOOSTEN 

(Note — Jacob  Hollekers  was  Jacob  Swartont  or  Swart.  He  had  an  "alias," 
likewise  a  wife  in  Holland,  according  to  records.  His  land  was  24  morgans  in 
New  Utrecht,  between  the  patents  of  Claes  Claeson  and  those  of  Jacques  Corteljau. 

23 


He  was  Magistrate  of  New  Utrecht  1661  and  1864.  In  1679  he  was  residing  in 
New  York.  He  is  referred  to  by  de  Labidists,  page  286,  Vol  I,  Memoirs  of  L.  I. 
His.  Soc.) 

This  letter  was  replied  to  by  the  directors  at  New  Netherlands, 
ordering  Corteljau  to  collect  all  information  and  report  to  the  directors. 

Matters  of  New  Utrecht's  settlement  are  better  described  in  a 
document  which  Governor  General  Stuyvesant  sent  to  the  Director 
General  at  Amsterdam,  Holland.  He  tells  of  the  "hamlet  on  Long 
Island,  as  near  the  Narrows  as  the  accommodations  of  the  settlers 
would  permit.  First,  the  village  of  New  Utrecht  was  formed  and 
laid  out  on  Long  Island  about  one-quarter  hour's  travel  from  the 
Narrows.  It  was  settled  by  about  22  to  24  families  of  the  Dutch — 
Netherland  Nation.  A  hamlet,  not  yet  named,  was  begun  on  Statan 
Island  about  two  years  ago,"  continues  Stuyvesant,  "and  has  12  to  14 
families  of  Dutch  and  French.  It  lies  about  half  hour's  walk  from 
the  Narrows"  (this  is  Nieuw  Dorp).  "Both  places  are  provided  with 
commodious  block  houses  or  defence  against  attacks  of  the  savages 
last  summer.  The  block  houses  were  built  by  putting  beam  upon 
beam  and  for  better  defence  are  provided  with  two  or  three  light 
pieces  of  ordnance,  of  which  one  or  two  are  'pedereroes.'  The  hamlet 
on  Statan  Island  being  the  weakest  and  too  far  to  be  relieved  in  time, 
is  garrisoned  with  10  soldiers  for  its  greater  safety."  Dated  April  26, 
1664. 

Between  Indian  troubles,  which  were  less  in  the  Najack  lands 
than  anywhere  else,  and  Governor  Stuyvesant's  rule,  the  separate 
colonies  at  Hempstead,  Genaco,  Nieuwtown,  Oysterbay,  Gravesend, 
decided  to  manage  their  own  affairs,  employing  Capt.  John  Scott  as 
their  leader.  He  immediately  made  more  trouble  by  proclaiming 
Charles  2d  to  be  their  "Dreade  Sovereign."  He  and  some  50  to  60 
horsemen  endeavored  to  demolish  the  Dutch  towns,  addressing  rebel- 
lious citizens  in  English,  which,  of  course,  made  matters  still  worse, 
that  language  not  being  understood  by  the  colonists.  Magistrates 
of  New  Utrecht  refused  to  obey  him.  Naturally,  great  confusion 
resulted  between  the  Dutch  and  English  settlers.  Then  Colonel 
Nicolls  and  his  squadron  entered  the  great  harbor  and  took  posses- 
sion in  the  name  of  the  Duke  of  York.  This  act  was  declared  piracy, 
not  honorable  war,  because  peace  then  existed  between  Holland  and 
England.  Aboard  his  ship  "Guerney,"  close  to  the  Narrows,  Col. 
Richard  Nicolls  (later  governor),  addressed  his  first  letter  to  Gov. 
Pieter  Stuyvesant,  demanding  the  surrender  of  New  Netherlands. 
This  was  August  20,  1664.  Brodhead's  history  tells  that  on  September 
3,  1664,  Fort  Amsterdam  surrendered  to  Nicolls.  The  name  of  the 

24 


fort  was  changed  to  Fort  James,  New  Amsterdam  becoming  New 
York,  in  honor  of  the  Duke  of  York.  Fort  Orange  was  named  Fort 
Albany,  September  23d,  and  Colonel  Nicolls  became  Governor  of 
New  York  in  behalf  of  the  duke. 

Fort  Amsterdam  and  New  York  state  were  divided  into  "Shires." 
The  towns  of  Kings,  Statan  Island,  and  Newtown  were  called  "West 
Riding  of  Yorkshire."  New  Utrecht  was  compelled  to  furnish  300 
palisades  toward  the  proper  defence  and  equipment  of  New  York. 

Labor  was  fixed  at  2S.  6d.  per  day.  Lodings  were  2d  per  night 
and  board  58  per  week.  Butter  was  then  priced  at  6d  per  pound, 
and  beef  was  2d  per  pound.  Such  were  conditions  when  the  English 
assumed  title  and  ruling. 

DEEDS  AND   MORTGAGES  RECORDED,   1664. 

An  ordinance  for  recording  deeds  and  mortgages  in  Breucklen, 
Flatbush,  Flatlands  and  New  Utrecht  was  made  February  14,  1664 
(page  542  F.).  This  was  to  facilitate  land  transactions  in  strictly 
business  like  method  and  end  troubles.  (558.)  "Inhabitants  of  New 
Utrecht  and  Gravesend  shall  settle  all  land  boundary  disputes  at  a 
meeting  held  at  Gravesend,  October  2,  1664,  by  three  indifferent 
persons  on  each  part  or  side  and  there  should  be  no  more  future 
cavills  and  contentions.  Signed  by  Richard  Nicolls,  English  rule." 

More  land  troubles  made  the  Governor  of  New  York  write  to 
Mr.  Jacques  Corteljau  as  follows: 

"Mr.  Jacques — 

There  hath  been  with  me  this  day  some  persons  from  New 
Towne  and  Breucklen  about  ye  Division  of  the  Meadows  in  dispute 
between  them  and  at  length  I  have  brought  them  to  an  Agreement 
and  would  have  you  to  come  to  see  me  on  Munday  Morning  next 
when  I  shall  give  you  instructions  for  the  surveying  and  laying  out 
thereof. 

Your  Loving  friend 

RICHARD  NICOLLS." 

Date  between  June  and  September,   1666. 

When  question  of  a  new  Sessions  House  (jail)  came  up  for  New 
York  and  Breucklen  the  settlement  of  New  Utrecht  was  taxed  £7 
for  its  proportion  of  the  expense,  under  date  of  February  19,  1667-8. 
(605,  Fernow's.) 

PATENT  GRANTED. 

August  15,  1668,  Governor  Nicolls  granted  a  formal  patent  for 
the  Najack  lands  to  Jacques  Corteljau,  Nicasius  de  Sille,  Francis 

25 


Browne,  Jacob  Swartout,  Robert  Jacobson,  the  patentees.  The  land 
comprised  about  280  acres,  or  130  morgens.  The  name  should  be 
retained  New  Utrecht  (pages  190191,  Thompson's  L.  I.  His.).  New 
Utrecht  became  authoritatively  a  village.  But  there  were  continued 
disturbances,  judging  from  extracts  of  a  council  minutes  under  Gov. 
Francis  Lovelace,  year  1671-2.  Nothing  of  this,  however,  relates  to 
the  Van  Woerckhoven  affair,  being  entirely  between  a  few  settlers 
and  "Captain"  Corteljau.  The  extracts  are: 

"Whereas  there  is  a  Mattr.  in  Difference  between  Capt.  Jacques 
Courteljua  and  ye  Inhabitants  of  the  Towne  of  New  Utrecht,  touch- 
ing his  and  their  particular  Interest  to  ye  Land  within  the  Lymitts 
of  their  General  Patent:  to  ye  end  a  faire  Composure  may  be  made 
between  them  and  that  I  may  have  a  right  understanding  of  Busyness, 
I  doe  recommend  the  examinacon  of  ye  Matter  unto  Mr.  Johannes  de 
Peyster,  Mr.  Christopher  Hoogeland,  Mr.  ffrancis  Rombont  and 
Jacob  Leysler,  who  are  desired  to  endeavor  a  good  Agreemt  between 
them :  And  Cornelys  Van  Ruijven  one  of  ye  Aldermen  of  this  City 
is  likewise  hereby  desired  to  communicate  unto  the  persons  afore 
menconed  what  hath  past  heretofore,  or  is  upon  Record  touching 
this  Matter.  Of  all  which  They  are  to  render  mee  an  accot.  for  my 
approbacon  of  what  They  shall  doe,  or  Determination  of  the  Matter 
otherwise  According  to  Law  and  good  Conscience  Given  etc  this  2d 
day  of  ffebry  1671-2." 

NOTE — It  is  believed  the  "Capt.  Jacques"  here  mentioned  was  a  son  of  Jacques 
the  founder  of  New  Utrecht,  who  was  a  man  advanced  in  years. 

Then  follows  the  agreement  made  upon  the  above  recorded 
council  minutes.  February  2d,  1671-2. 

"This  day  ye  Governor  having  issued  forth  an  Order  to  Mr. 
de  Peyster  etc  to  examine  into  and  end  a  certain  difference  between 
Capt.  Jacques  Corteljau  and  ye  Inhabitants  of  New  Utrecht  about 
some  land  within  their  Patent,  they  are  come  to  an  agreement  there- 
upon, vizt  Jan  Van  Cleve  and  Adrian  Williamsen  on  behalfe  of  the 
Towne  who  had  deputed  them,  doe  engage  to  pay  to  Capt.  Jacques 
Corteljau  or  his  Assignes,  ye  sume  of  1750  guilders  to  be  paid  at 
foure  payments  In  Come.  That  is  to  say,  Wheate  at  6  guilders  ye 
skepple  and  other  Corne  at  price  currant.  Every  yeare  a  direct  4th. 
part,  the  first  payment  to  be  made  the  next  Christmas  after  the  date 
thereof,  the  other  three  payments  the  severell  Chrismas  times  fol- 
lowing, each  one  third  part.  In  consideracon  whereof,  Capt.  Jacques 
Corteljau  doth  and  shall  desist  his  pretentions  to  ye  common  Bush 
Land  within  the  Patent  of  New  Utrecht  and  resigns  it  to  the  Inhabi- 
tants there,  Reserving  only  a  double  Lott  to  himselfe,  as  also  that  he 

26 


shall  have  Liberty  to  remove  his  ffence  at  Najeck  as  farr  as  the 
Creuple  Bush  unto  ye  Land  of  Van  Kirk,  soe  neare  about  to  ye  North 
East  Hooke  of  a  Small  Island,  Provided  hee  have  a  sufficient  space 
for  Outdrift  of  Cattle.  To  this  Agreement  the  Commissionrs  nomi- 
nated by  ye  Governor  and  ye  Partyes,  as  also  Mr.  Van  Ruijven  have 
sett  to  their  Hands  as  Witness.  1671-2." 

Then  follows  the  Governor's  approbation  to  this  submitted  docu- 
ment telling  of  legal  settlement  of  all  the  land  differences  in  New 
Utrecht. 

"I  doe  very  well  approve  of  this  agreemt  made  before  the  Com- 
missionrs by  mee  appointed  to  examine  into  ye  Difference  between 
Capt.  Jacques  Corteljau  on  ye  one  part  and  Jan  Van  Cleave  and 
Willemsen  on  behalf  of  the  Towne  of  New  Utrecht  on  the  other  part : 
The  wch  I  doe  hereby  Order  to  be  entered  upon  Record  as  a  finall 
Determinacon  of  the  Case. 

Given  under  my  hand  this  3d  day  of  ffebruary,  1671-2. 

ffranc  Lovelace." 

Among  appointments  made  by  those  in  authority  during  this 
period  were  some  of  importance  toward  proper  development  and 
management  of  the  New  Netherlands  colonies.  Hendrick  Smack  was 
first  constable,  1669;  the  first  "overseer"  was  Luykes  Mayerse,  1672. 
The  New  Utrecht  disagreement  over  land  rights,  penetrating  to  Gov- 
ernor Lovelace,  was  settled  by  him,  in  fair  manner,  for  all  concerned. 

The  colonists  of  New  Utrecht  did  not  once  refer  to  any  Van 
Woerckhoven  matters,  lands  or  estate.  Nor  was  Mr.  Corteljau,  father,  or 
Capt.  Jacques  the  son  reproached  in  any  manner  whatsoever.  The  agree- 
ment of  settlement  on  the  contrary,  appears  to  have  been  most  solicitous 
that  Corteljau  should  receive  due  reward  for  the  disputed  lands.  Payment 
must  be  made  to  him.  A  double  lot  was  also  allowed  him.  His  fence  was 
only  to  be  removed  if  he  had  sufficient  outdrift  for  his  cattle.  It  would 
not  have  been  so  arranged  and  so  stated  had  he  done  anything  wrong 
in  land  ownership,  or  been  guilty  of  theft  in  the  Van  Woerckhoven 
estate  matter.  Mention  is  made  of  Capt.  Jacques  Corteljau,  July, 
1672,  in  aiding  toward  proper  settlement  of  agreement  between  the 
settlements  of  Newtowne  and  Boswyck.  Had  he  been  in  bad  repute 
at  the  time  no  such  aid  would  have  been  sought  by  those  in  authority. 

This  is  related  because  a  different  aspect  has  frequently  been 
given  the  Van  Woerckhoven  estate  matter.  Records  prove  that  his 
town  continued  to  respect  and  honor  him  and  that  the  small  land 
dispute,  once  settled,  remained  so.  That  dispute  was  in  no  way  an 
estate  matter  for  the  Van  Woerckhoven  heirs.  Had  it  been  such, 
records  would  so  prove. 

27 


During  1672  foreign  war  again  arose,  both  England  and  France 
seeking  the  Netherlands  as  its  prize.  A  Dutch  squadron  reaching 
New  York  July  30,  1673,  compelled  surrender,  learning  weakness  of 
the  palisades  or  fort  and  likewise  secret  encouragement  of  the  Dutch 
inhabitants.  Accordingly  New  York  was  taken  by  the  Dutch,  July 
30,  August  9,  1673,  when  former  Gov.  Peter  Stuyvesant  was  avenged. 

When  the  Holland  commanders  established  themselves  in  New 
York  the  six  nearest  Long  Island  towns  immediately  surrendered  to 
their  authority — Midwout,  Amersfort,  Breucklen,  New  Utrecht, 
Bushwick,  Gravesend,  also  Staten  Island. 

Jacob  Stycker,  of  Breucklen,  was  appointed  "Schont"  and  Francis 
de  Bruyn,  of  New  Utrecht,  became  Secretary  of  the  District.  The 
Dutch  settlers  were  filled  with  joy  but  not  so  the  English,  who  were 
not  responsive  to  the  capture  of  New  York  by  the  Holland  com- 
manders. On  August  29,  1673,  all  the  men  of  New  Utrecht  took  the 
oath  of  allegience  to  the  House  of  Orange. 

It  was  ordered  at  this  time  that  the  Reformed  Dutch  religion  be 
maintained  in  the  Colonies.  But  the  Dutch  had  a  very  short  reign. 
During  February  and  March,  1674,  the  English  again  succeeded  in 
taking  the  reins  of  government,  per  the  Westminster  Act. 

Existing  conditions  soon  made  the  Dutch  colonists  uncomfortable. 
It  was  not  known  who  would  govern  them.  Lovelace  was  practi- 
cally unfit,  while  Nicolls  had  passed  away  into  the  great  beyond.  It 
appeared  difficult  to  find  a  suitable  man.  Finally,  the  person  selected 
was  Edmond  Andros,  a  major  in  the  English  army,  disbanded  after 
the  Westminster  Treaty.  He  was  an  English  Episcopalian  but  not 
the  least  bigoted,  which  seemed  most  favorable  a  sign  to  the  anxious 
Dutch  settlers.  He  was  also  a  good  Dutch  scholar.  His  private 
character  was  unblemished.  What  seemed  better  yet  was  the  fact, 
made  known,  that  the  colonists  of  New  Netherlands  were  to  be  treated 
with  consideration.  It  had  been  thought  possible  Holland  might  pur- 
chase the  Province  but  such  proposition  ended  in  nothing.  The  King 
gave  assurance  that  all  inhabitants  of  the  colonies  should  enjoy  their 
privileges  exactly  as  they  had  done  before  the  war,  which  declaration 
established  a  new  effect  over  the  articles  of  capitulation  in  1664. 

November  i,  1674,  Governor-elect  Andros  arrived  off  Statan 
Island.  According  to  the  latest  peace  treaty  he  was  ready  to  receive 
New  York  officially  for  England. 

An  entirely  new  patent  was  granted ;  a  second  grant,  conveyed 
to  the  Duke  of  York,  a  land  which  the  Holland  government,  after 
holding,  "restored  to  His  Majesty."  Thus  did  King  James  reign  over 
the  American  Province.  Governor  Andros,  born  1637,  married  Mary, 
daughter  of  Sir  Thomas  Craven,  1671. 

28 


The  new  Governor  was  instructed  to  choose  a  council,  not  exceed- 
ing ten  men,  from  "the  most  prudent  inhabitants,"  for  consultation 
upon  all  matters  of  public  occasions.  They  as  well  as  all  other 
officers,  were  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King. 

The  Duke  of  York,  by  the  King's  permission,  raised  a  military 
company,  making  Governor  Andros  the  captain,  Anthony  Brockholls, 
lieutenant ;  Christopher  Billop,  second  lieutenant,  and  Caesar  Knapton, 
ensign.  There  was  also  a  surgeon  and  a  chaplain  appointed  but  their 
names  are  not  stated. 

(Note — The  Christopher  Biljpp  mentioned  is  the  man  whose  record  was  that 
"he  served  the  King."  Later  he  was  given  a  grant  of  land  on  Staten  Island,  close 
to  the  Jersey  Shore,  or  where  Tottenville  now  exists.  The  Billop  mansion  was, 
later  on,  under  the  direction  of  his  son,  Christopher,  Jr.,  the  important  stronghold 
for  Tories  and  Toryism  during  the  Revolutionary  war.  The  Billop  house  was  made 
famous  in  New  York  and  New  Jersey  history.  Because  Christopher  Billop  sailed 
around  Staten  Island  in  his  sloop  the  "Bentley,"  and  under  wager  settled  the  fact 
that  Staten  Island  could  be  circled  in  one  day,  so  securing  the  Island  for  New 
York,  it  was  argued  by  a  few  residents  of  Tottenville  during  1910-11  that  "Bentley 
Manor"  be  given  as  name  of  the  town  where  stood  the  Billop  house.  A  storm  of 
protest  arose,  however.  The  storm  traveled  to  Washington,  D.  C,  where  the 
Postmaster  General,  having  changed  the  name  of  Tottenville  to  Bentley  Manor, 
finally  changed  it  back  again  to  Tottenville.  The  name  of  Totten  was  on  Staten 
Island  church  records;  it  was  an  honored  name  in  the  Borough  of  Richmond  and 
by  a  rousing  petition  the  old  time  residents  of  Tottenville  kept  their  name.  Re- 
stored July  i,  191 1,  by  the  Postmaster  General.) 

During  November,  1674,  the  "Mayor's  Court"  was  convened. 
Its  records  were  ordered  "to  thereafter  be  kept  in  English  writing, 
except  in  the  case  of  very  poor  people  who  could  not  afford  transla- 
tion expenses."  Several  years  elapsed,  however,  before  the  system 
became  effectual.  In  March,  1675,  Governor  Andros  required  "All 
such  persons  who  doe  intend  to  be  under  His  Majesty's  obedience 
and  government,"  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Some  of  the  Dutch 
inhabitants  objected  to  this.  It  was  feared  there  might  be  no  free- 
dom of  religion,  or  that  impressment  in  the  military  corps  might 
follow  such  oath  of  allegiance.  Some  arrests  and  various  court 
troubles  followed.  There  was  considerable  trouble  with  colonists  on 
Long  Island. 

FIRST  PUBLIC  FAIR. 

During  the  fall  of  1675  it  was  arranged  that  an  annual  fair  for 
grain,  cattle  and  produce  should  be  held  at  "Breucklen,  neare  the 
Ferry."  This  is  the  first  account  of  any  public  fair  or  outdoor  exhibit 
being  mentioned  for  the  Colonies.  At  this  time  it  was  also  ordered 
that  "because  Staten  Island  was  separated  from  the  main  Colonies 

29 


by  water,  a  separate  jurisdiction  and  noe  dependence  on  the  Courts 
of  Long  Island  should  be  established.  John  Palmer  was  thereupon 
appointed  for  such  office."  Another  order  was  that  "Those  Towns 
not  having  sufficient  to  keep  a  minister  should  be  doubly  levied  upon 
for  church  rates." 

During  the  winter  of  1678,  Governor  Andros  was  given  permis- 
sion to  visit  London.  He  there  described  New  York  as  "having  24 
towns,  villages  or  parishes."  There  were  not  many  slaves,  so  he 
stated — more  were  needed.  The  price  of  such  a  servant  averaged 
30  to  ^35.  Anyone  owning  500  to  £  1,000  was  comfortably  well  off. 

About  15  vessels  traversed  the  ocean  each  year,  between  England 
and  the  new  country.  New  York  and  Albany  were  the  chief  trading 
ports.  The  so-called  militia  then  comprised  about  2,000  men,  which 
included  150  horsemen.  At  this  time  Fort  James  had  taken  the 
shape  of  a  square,  built  of  stone,  with  over  40  guns  mounted  and 
four  bastions.  For  Albany  there  were  12  guns,  to  guard  against  the 
uncertain  Indians  whose  attacks  were  likely  at  any  time.  English 
soldiers  were  stationed  at  both  forts.  Records  of  marriages,  births 
and  deaths  for  the  Colonies  were  not  kept  because  ministers  were  not 
plentiful  and  religion  was  divided  into  sections.  An  Episcopalian 
chaplain  was  therefore  prominent.  New  York  "had  noe  beggars 
but  the  poore  were  cared  for." 

Governor  Andros,  returned  to  his  New  York  charge,  warmly 
indorsed  the  plans  for  a  first  Dutch  Church,  to  be  built  a  quarter  larger 
than  that  within  the  fort  (only  54  feet  wide  and  too  small  for  the 
growing  congregation).  He  even  advanced  some  money  for  the 
cause,  his  personal  contribution.  Thus  was  established  on  solid 
basis,  the  first  Dutch  Church  in  New  Netherlands,  June,  1680. 

Andres's  visit  to  England  caused  entanglements  in  management 
at  New  York;  trouble  ensued. 

During  October,  1681,  the  Court  of  Assizes  rebuked  disaffection 
of  Colonists,  especially  on  Long  Island. 

An  order  reading  "rude  and  unlawful  sports,  to  the  dishonor  of 
God  and  profanation  of  his  holy  day  should  be  prevented,"  was  issued. 
This  referred  to  Negro  and  Indian  servants  during  their  meetings 
on  Sunday.  It  may  possibly  also  account  for  the  description  given 
by  the  Labadists,  Dankers  and  Sluyter,  who,  during  their  journey 
on  Long  Island,  1679,  described  the  inhabitants  as  "a  Godless  lot." 
The  Magistrates  of  Long  Island  were  ordered  to  prevent  any  dis- 
orderly meetings,  to  arrest  and  keep  peace  and  quiet  of  government. 
As  Governor  Andros  was  knighted  upon  the  occasion  of  his  second 
visit  to  England,  when  Lady  Andros  joined  him  there,  it  became 
necessary  to  find  a  new  and  fitting  Governor  for  the  Duke  of  York's 

30 


city  in  New  Netherlands.  King  James  finally  chose  Col.  Thomas 
Dongon,  son  of  Sir  John  Dongon,  an  Irish  baronet  of  note. 

Dongon  was  a  Roman  Catholic.  East  and  West  New  Jersey 
were  not  part  of  the  new  Governor's  jurisdiction,  as  previously  had 
been  the  case.  Governor  Dongon  reached  New  York  August  25,  1683, 
by  way  of  Massachusetts,  to  find  much  disaffection  among  the  inhab- 
itants, principally  on  account  of  expired  tax  and  other  business  con- 
tracts. Long  Island  was  especially  troublesome.  One  report  of 
Governor  Dongon  reads,  "Here  bee  not  many  of  the  Church  of  Eng- 
land, few  Roman  Catholics,  a  Dutch  Calvanist  sect,  abundance  of 
Quakers — in  short  all  sorts  of  opinions  and  most  part  none  at  all. 
The  Great  church  which  serves  both  the  English  and  the  Dutch  is 
within  the  Fort  which  is  now  found  to  bee  very  inconvenient.  There- 
fore I  desire  there  may  be  an  order  for  their  building  another,  ground 
being  already  layd  out  for  that  purpose  and  they  not  wanting  money 
in  store  to  build  it.  The  most  prevailing  opinion  is  that  of  the  Dutch 
Colonists.  It  is  the  endeavor  of  all  those  persons  to  bring  up  their 
children  and  servants  in  that  opinion  which  themselves  profess: 
but  I  observe  that  they  take  no  care  of  the  conversion  of  their  slaves. 
Every  Town  and  County  are  obliged  to  maintain  their  own  poor, 
which  makes  them  bee  soe  careful  that  noe  vagabonds,  beggars  or 
idle  persons  are  suffered  to  live  here.  But  as  for  the  King's  natural 
born  subjects  that  live  on  Long  Island  and  other  parts  of  the  govern- 
ment, I  find  it  a  hard  task  to  make  them  pay  their  ministers."  Dated 
Fort  James,  1687. 

In  April,  1688,  the  elders  of  the  Dutch  church  begged  Governor 
Dongon  to  establish  them  as  a  body  ecclesiastic  and  corporate,  under 
the  name  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New  York.  But  it  was 
a  successor  to  Dongon  who  actually  granted  this  petition — Governor 
Fletcher,  in  1693.  Such  is  the  history  of  the  Dutch  church  in  North 
America.  Long  Island  had  its  separate  church  troubles,  with  New 
Utrecht  one  of  the  settlements  thereof. 

The  inhabitants  of  New  Utrecht  had  no  serious  outbreaks  toward 
government  policies.  Breucklen  progressed  and  so  did  New  Utrecht 
in  its  steady  cultivation  of  field  and  home  work. 

DE  SILLE'S  DEATH  (PRIOR  TO  1674). 

Local  records  tell  of  the  sale  of  Nicasius  de  Sille's  house,  March 
29,  1674,  to  Rutgert  Joosten  Van  Brunt,  by  order  of  Nicholas  Bayard, 
trustee  for  Mr.  de  Sille  and  Catrina  Croegers  his  wife.  De  Sille's 
death  was  prior  to  March,  1674.  He  had  been  a  noted  scholar,  done 
much  writing  and  had  left  a  complete  record  of  his  town,  to  1660. 


Barent  Wyckoff  was  last  to  occupy  the  house.  During  1850  it  was 
destroyed,  for  no  apparent  reason  at  the  time. 

In  1675  Jacques  Corteljau  lost  his  house  by  fire.  The  Governor 
of  New  York  sent  several  skilled  workmen  with  material  to  assist 
Mr.  Corteljau  in  restoring  his  home.  This  was  a  special  honor  it 
would  appear.  The  first  house  had  been  of  logs;  the  second  one, 
built  of  stone,  was  on  the  same  site.  Mr.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  doubly 
descended  from  Jacques,  has  been  authority  for  data  regarding  Cor- 
telyou home  facts.  In  1893  ne  gathered  from  his  histories  and  papers 
that  the  first  home  of  Jacques  Corteljau  the  settler,  was  located  near 
where  Col.  Loomis  Langdon's  battery  then  existed,  "a  few  rods  East 
of  the  present  homestead"  (meaning  the  Simon  Cortelyou  house, 
then  standing).  Jacques  Corteljau's  house  of  stone  was  torn  down 
between  1693-1699,  by  the  government  when  land  thereabouts  was  pur- 
chased for  garrison  use.  Some  of  the  stones  were  used  in  building  the 
fort  itself ;  some  went  in  the  Simon  Cortelyou  house,  erected  about  1700.* 

The  Jacques  Corteljau  house  standing  West  of  Simon  Cortelyou's 
house  has  been  depicted  as  the  original  stone  dwelling  of  the  settler 
Jacques.  According  to  Mr.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou's  family  records  this  was 
not  so.  His  statement  was  proved  correct.  The  Simon  Cortelyou  house 
was  also  demolished  by  the  government,  1894-9.  The  Isaac  Cortelyou 
homestead,  built  by  Nicholas  Vecht  in  1699,  was  on  the  Gowanus 
road.  In  that  locality  the  great  and  memorable  battle  of  Long  Island 
occurred  August,  1776.  This  has  been  dealt  with  separately.  Isaac, 
resident  of  the  Gowanus  house,  had  fishing  and  farming  interests  at 
the  Narrows,  with  Jacques  Corteljau. 

Referring  to  Jacques,  the  ancestor,  he  was  a  member  of  the 
governor's  council,  1675  >  a^so  a  justice  of  the  peace.  He  was  a  sur- 
veyor of  note,  and  made  the  first  map  of  New  York  January  16,  1657. 
As  founder  of  New  Utrecht  his  name  naturally  occurs  among  old 
records  relating  to  New  Netherlands  and  Long  Island. 

In  laying  out  the  settlement  of  New  Utrecht  he  had  plantation 
No.  10,  or  30  morgens,  which  he  sold,  January  6,  1665,  to  Hendrick 
Smack.  Mr.  Corteljau  was  also  interested  in  a  tract  of  land,  12,000 
morgans,  at  "Aquackanoak,"  bought  by  himself  and  others,  from  the 
Indians.  This  land  was  back  of  "Raritans,"  or  rather  in  New  Jersey, 
where  some  records  also  tell  of  Mr.  Corteljau's  enterprises.  He  aban- 
doned this  large  one,  however,  finding  it  burdensome. 

The  Van  Duyn  ancestor,  who  emigrated  in  1649  (carpenter  by 
trade)  purchased  land  from  his  brother-in-law,  Jacques  Corteljau — 

*  Note — No  photograph  exists  of  the  first  Jacques  Corteljau  house;  nor  of  the 
second.  That  often  shown  is  the  third.  It  was  west  of  Simon  Cortelyou's  house. 
Near  this  latter  homestead  the  British  landed,  August  22,  1776. 

32 


a  parcel  of  woodland  partly  in  New  Utrecht,  partly  in  Flatbush,  on 
which  he  made  a  settlement.  Later  it  was  held  as  a  farm  by  his 
descendants.  Date  of  sale,  1684. 

In  May,  1679,  Governor  Andros  established  the  office  of  "Towne 
Clerk."  Joost  de  Baene  is  recorded  as  such  in  1686,  while  Jan  Hausen 
(Van  Nostrand)  and  Myndert  Koerten  were  the  first  "Assessors," 
1687. 

During  May,  1686,  Gov.  Thomas  Dongon  granted  a  new  patent 
to  the  freeholders  named  as  follows,  J.  Corteljau,  Ruth  Jooster,  John 
Vankerk,  Hendrick  Mathyse,  John  Kierson,  John  Vandyck,  Guisbert 
Thyson,  Carel  Van  Dyck,  Jan  Van  Cleaf,  Cryn  Jansen,  Meyendert 
Corten,  John  Hansen,  Barent  Joosten,  Teunis  Van  Pelt,  Hendrick 
Van  Pelt,  Lawrence  Janse,  Gerrit  Cornelissen,  Dirck  Van  Stutphen, 
Thomas  Dirckson,  Gerrit  Stoeffelson,  Peter  Thyson,  Anthony  Van 
Pelt,  Anthony  Duchaine,  Jan  Vandeventer,  Cornelis  Wynhart.  This 
patent  was  dated  at  Fort  James,  May  13,  1686. 

During  1687  some  52  inhabitants  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  to 
England.  They  relinquished  no  allegiance  to  the  House  of  Orange, 
but  sought  to  lessen  troubles  arising  from  commercial  intricacies 
existing  between  governing  powers  and  various  settlements.  Freedom  of 
religion  was  also  retained. 

New  Utrecht's  first  representation  in  New  York  State  Assembly 
was  in  the  person  of  Myndert  Korten,  1698.  Korten  was  identified 
with  Jacob  Leisler  and  was  at  one  time  sentenced  to  death,  owing  to 
Leisler's  unruly  transactions.  Korten  was  finally  released.  Leisler, 
condemned  for  his  bold  confiscation  of  properties  and  insubordination, 
was  executed,  which  action,  later  on,  was  declared  by  the  powers 
across  the  ocean,  to  have  been  unjust.  These  matters  were  among 
the  disturbing  elements  of  an  otherwise  peaceful  people.  The  Dutch 
were  prudent,  thrifty  and  cared  excessively  for  their  homes.  Domes- 
tic matters  on  record  tend  to  show  careful  thought  applied  to  home 
and  family. 

Take  for  instance  the  case  of  the  poor  dancing  master,  Mr. 
Francis  Stepney,  who,  forced  to  leave  Boston  because  of  rigid  scruples 
as  to  his  art  in  that  puritanical  stronghold  of  religion,  journeyed  to 
New  York.  There  he  was  ordered  not  to  teach  any  dancing  in  New 
York  and  furthermore  he  should  at  once  give  some  security  that  he 
could  otherwise  support  himself,  or  else  he  should  leave  the  Province. 
Greatly  offended,  the  polite  and  earnest  dancing  master  appealed  his 
case  in  person  to  the  King.  This  was  January  3,  1687.  There  is  no 
record  of  the  King's  reply.  But  the  Dutch  settlers  would  have  no 
neighbor  who  could  not  work. 

3  33 


In  closing  the  1600  period  for  New  Utrecht,  it  is  in  keeping  to 
add  that  while  New  York  objected  to  dancing  lessons  as  an  art  too 
frivolous  for  active,  sturdy  people,  there  is  ample  proof  that  the 
Dutch  colonists  of  New  Netherlands  had  music  in  their  homes,  how- 
ever humble  that  home  may  have  been.  The  Dutch  lullaby  was 
almost  a  national  song  those  days,  sung  in  households  all  the  way 
from  Fort  Orange  down  to  the  Narrows. 

Here  is  the  Dutch  version : 

"Trip  a  trop  a  troujes 
De  varkens  in  the  boonjes. 
De  koejes  in  de  Klaver 
De  paarden  in  the  haver 
De  denjes  in  de  waterplars 
So  groot  myn  kleine — was." 

This  was  usually  sung  when  a  child  was  in  arms  and  at  the  last 
word,  the  child  was  suddenly  tossed  from  melody  rocking  motion, 
high  up  in  the  air.  The  last  word  was  thus  rendered  a  rollicking 
end  to  the  whole. 

The  verse  relates  how  the  cows  are  in  the  corn,  the  pigs  in  the 
clover,  etc.,  etc.,  and  then  suddenly  the  singer  tosses  the  child  aloft 
at  the  last  stanza.  Thus  the  Dutch  carried  music  into  their  hearts 
and  home.  In  Virginia  the  music  was  of  the  cavalier  sort,  filled  with 
love  and  passion,  British  war  songs,  etc. 

New  England  had  only  psalmody,  the  simpler  the  better. 

Under  a  separate  chapter  the  musical  side  of  the  early  American 
colonists  is  better  depicted. 

A  tax,  caused  by  "Public  defence  against  the  English,"  including 
damage  claims  to  buildings,  was  made  at  New  Amsterdam,  1675. 
The  wealth  of  the  city  at  that  time  can  best  be  judged  by  noting  on 
the  list  134  estates  taxed  and  valued  in  aggregate,  £90  or  $226,000. 
Among  the  names  appear  some  that  are  familiar  to  New  Utrecht 
interests ;  Anthony  Jansen,  of  Salee,  Cornelis  Dirckson,  from  West- 
een,  Dirck  Van  Cleef,  Hendrick  Van  Dyck,  Jan  Vigne,  Jacob  Kip 
and  about  50  other  residents  of  the  New  Amsterdam  circle.  (In 
February,  1896,  this  list  was  in  possession  of  Mr.  Manderville  Mower, 
673  Lexington  Avenue,  New  York  City.  Mr.  Mower  had  been  an 
interested  gleaner  of  historic  matters  and  told  of  this  data.) 


34 


JASPER  BANKERS  AND  PETER  SLUYTER. 
(Their  trip  on  L.  I.  described.     New  Utrecht  in  1679.) 

NOTE — The  late  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  citizen  and  writer  of  history,  left  a 
valuable  transcription,  "Voyage  of  the  Labadists."     Extracts  are  here  given. 

In  1679  and  1680  record  of  the  voyage  to  New  York  and  a  tour 
in  American  colonies  was  undertaken  by  Jaspar  Bankers  and  Peter 
Sluyter,  disciples  of  de  Labadie,  whom  history  tells  of.  They  recorded 
Long  Island  to  be  144  miles  in  length  and  22  to  28  miles  wide. 
They  started  out  to  meet  Jan  Teunissen,  their  fellow  passenger,  "who 
had  promised  them  much  good."  Jan,  however,  was  not  up  to  his 
word.  When  his  friends  found  him,  he  acted  coldly,  and  so  they 
journeyed  on  to  the  village  of  Bruecklen,  returning  by  ferry  to  Man- 
hattan. (The  Gerritt  referred  to  in  the  following  is  Gerrit  Cornelis 
Van  Duyn,  a  friend  of  both  travelers.  Gerrit  died,  1706). 

"Having  passed  through  the  first  village,  called  Breucklen,  which 
had  a  small  and  ugly  little  church  in  the  middle  of  the  road,  we  struck 
off  to  the  right  in  order  to  come  to  Gouwanes  (Gowanus).  We  went 
upon  several  plantations.  Gerrit  was  acquainted  with  most  all  the 
people,  who  made  us  very  welcome,  sharing  with  us  bountifully  what- 
ever they  had.  It  is  impossible  to  tell  how  many  peach  trees  we 
passed,  all  laden  with  fruit  to  breaking  down.  We  came  to  a  place 
surrounded  with  such  trees,  from  which  so  many  peaches  had  fallen 
off  the  ground  could  not  be  discerned,  and  you  could  not  put  your 
foot  down  without  trampling  them.  The  hogs  and  other  animals  fed 
upon  them.  This  place  belongs  to  the  oldest  European  woman  in 
the  country.  We  went  immediately  to  her  house,  where  she  lived 
with  her  children.  We  found  her  sitting  by  the  fire,  smoking  tobacco 
incessantly.  We  inquired  her  age,  which  the  children  told  us  was 
one  hundred  years.  She  was  from  Luyck  (Liege),  and  spoke  French. 
She  had  been  about  fifty  years  in  the  country  and  had  about  seventy 
children  and  grandchildren.  Her  mother  was  in  or  112  years  old 
when  she  died. 

"We  left  that  home  and  proceeded  on  to  Gowanes,  a  place  so 
called,  where  we  arrived  at  one  of  the  best  friends  of  Gerrit,  named 
Symon.  He  was  very  glad  to  see  us  and  so  was  his  wife.  We  found 
a  good  fire,  half  way  up  the  chimney,  of  charcoal  and  hickory,  of 
which  they  made  not  the  least  scruples  of  burning  profusely.  We 
let  it  penetrate  us  thoroughly." 

(This  was  Simon  Aertson  d'Hart,  who  immigrated  in  1664,  and 
settled  at  Gowanus.) 

"Saturday,  September  3Oth.  Early  this  morning,  we  left  after 
breakfast.  We  went  through  a  woods  and  found  new  made  land,  and 

35 


saw  along  the  shore  to  the  west  end  of  the  island,  Najeck."  (Fort 
Hamilton  surrounded  by  a  great  marsh,  was  presumably  called  an 
island  by  these  two  men).  "Continuing  from  there  we  came  to  the 
plantation  of  the  Najiack  Indians,  which  was  planted  with  maize  or 
wheat.  We  found  an  old  woman  beating  beans  out  of  the  pod.  We 
went  from  there  to  her  habitation,  where  we  found  the  whole  tribe 
together,  consisting  of  seven  or  eight  families  and  twenty  or  twenty- 
two  persons.  The  house  was  low  and  long,  about  sixty  feet  long  and 
fourteen  or  fifteen  feet  wide.  The  bottom  was  earth.  The  sides  and 
roof  were  made  of  reed  and  bark  of  chestnut  trees.  The  top  or  roof 
was  open  half  a  foot  wide  to  let  the  smoke  out.  They  built  their 
fires  in  the  middle  of  the  floor,  according  to  the  number  of  families 
which  lived  in  it.  They  lie  upon  mats  with  their  feet  toward  the 
fire.  They  do  not  sit  upon  anything  raised  up,  but  sit  on  the  ground 
or  squat  on  their  ankles." 

(The  two  travelers  are  careful  to  note  much  of  the  Indian  life 
as  shown  by  this  Najack  tribe  then  residing  in  that  locality.  They  go 
on  to  tell,  in  their  own  language,  more  about  these  Indians.) 

"The  Indians  live  on  the  land  of  Jacques,  brother-in-law  of 
Gerrit,  who  bought  the  land  from  them,  in  the  first  instance,  and  then 
let  them  have  a  small  corner  for  which  they  pay  him  twenty  bushels 
of  maize  yearly.  Jacques  "Corteljau"  at  first  bought  the  whole  of 
Najeck  from  these  Indians,  who  were  the  lords  thereof  and  lived 
upon  the  land,  which  is  a  large  place,  and  afterwards  bought  it  again 
in  parcels.  He  was  unwilling  to  drive  the  Indians  from  the  land, 
and  had  therefore  left  them  a  corner  of  it,  keepjng  the  best  of  it 
himself." 

"We  arrived  then  upon  this  land,  which  is  all  good  and  yields 
large  crops  of  wheat  and  other  grain.  It  is  of  a  blackish  color,  but 
not  clayey,  and  almost  like  the  garden  mould  I  have  seen  in  Holland. 
At  length  we  reached  the  house,  where  we  found  Monsieur  La  Grange, 
who  had  come  there  in  search  of  us  concerning  his  departure, 
and  to  take  us  to  his  house.  We  spoke  to  him  in  regard  to  this  and 
other  matters,  as  was  proper,  and  shortly  afterwards  he  left.  Jacques 
is  a  man  advanced  in  years.  He  was  born  in  Utrecht,  but  of  French 
parents,  as  we  could  readily  discover  from  all  his  actions,  looks  and 
language.  He  had  studied  philosophy  in  his  youth  and  spoke  Latin 
and  good  French.  He  was  a  mathematician  and  sworn  land  surveyor. 
He  had  formerly  learned  several  sciences  and  had  some  knowledge 
of  medicine.  The  worst  of  it  was  he  was  a  good  Cartesian,  and  not 
a  good  Christian,  regulating  himself  and  all  externals  by  reason  and 
justice  only.  Nevertheless,  he  regulated  all  things  better  by  these 

36 


principles  than  most  people  in  these  parts  do  who  bear  the  name 
of  Christians  or  pious  persons." 

"His  brother-in-law  and  ourselves  were  welcomed  by  him  and 
his  wife.  He  treated  us  with  every  civility,  although  two  of  his  sons 
being  sick  and  he  very  much  confined  in  attending  upon  them,  he  was 
much  interrupted  in  attending  to  us,  since  they,  more  than  we, 
affected  his  head  and  that  of  his  wife.  We  went  looking  around  the 
country  and  towards  evening  came  to  the  village  of  New  Utrecht, 
so  named  by  him.  This  village  was  burned  down,  some  time  ago, 
with  everything  about  it,  including  the  home  of  this  man,  which  was 
almost  a  half  hour  from  it.  Many  persons  were  impoverished  by 
the  fire.  It  was  now  almost  rebuilt  and  many  good  stone  houses  were 
erected,  of  which  Jacques'  was  one,  where  we  returned  by  another 
route  to  spend  the  night.  After  supper  we  went  to  sleep  in  the  barn 
upon  some  straw  spread  with  sheepskins  and  in  the  midst  of  con- 
tinual grunting  of  hogs,  bleating  and  coughing  of  sheep,  barking  of 
dogs,  and  crowing  of  cock,  and  especially  a  goodly  quantity  of  fleas 
and  vermin,  and  all  with  an  open  barn  door  through  which  a  fresh 
northwest  wind  was  blowing.  Though  we  could  not  sleep  we  could 
not  complain,  inasmuch  as  we  had  the  same  quarters  and  kind  of  bed 
that  their  own  son  had,  who  had  now  upon  our  arrival  crept  in  on 
the  straw  behind  us."  (The  sickness  referred  to  by  the  travelers,  was 
that  of  a  scourge  of  smallpox,  which  accounts  for  the  fact  that  they 
were  put  in  the  barn  to  sleep,  as  well  as  Jacques'  son.  Precautions 
were  taken  to  prevent  any  spread  of  the  disease.) 

"Sunday,  October  ist.  We  went  this  morning  on  a  tour  of  obser- 
vation of  the  country  and  of  the  neighbors,  some  of  whom  were  better 
situated  than  others.  All  of  them  had  more  or  less  children  sick  of 
the  smallpox,  which  next  to  the  fever  and  ague,  is  the  most  prevalent 
disease  in  these  parts,  of  which  many  have  died.  We  went  into  one 
house  where  there  were  two  children  lying  dead  and  unburied  and 
three  others  sick,  and  where  one  had  died  the  week  before.  The  dis- 
ease was  more  fatal  this  year.  We  spoke  to  those  afflicted  what  was 
suitable  and  they  could  bear." 

"Monday,  2nd.  Having  slept  the  night  again  at  Najack,  we  four 
went  after  breakfast  to  the  Bay  (the  Bay  signifies  Flatlands),  where 
we  arrived  about  ten  o'clock.  We  did  not  find  Jan  Theuinessen  at 
home,  as  he  had  driven  to  the  City  to  bring  his  goods ;  but  his  father 
and  mother  made  us  welcome  and  took  us  around  their  orchards. 
My  comrade  spoke  of  Godly  things,  but  he  seemed  to  be  a  little  dis- 
posed to  play  the  part  of  a  religious  and  wise  man,  and  he  defended 
himself  in  the  evil  as  much  as  he  could,  going  to  work  somewhat 

37 


coldly  with  us.  \Ye  took  the  time,  however,  to  go  around  and  see 
everything  thoroughly,  and  found  the  land  in  general  not  so  good  as 
that  at  Najack.  There  is  towards  the  sea  a  large  piece  of  low  flat 
land  which  is  overflown  at  every  tide  like  the  'Schorr'  (marsh)  with 
us.  All  the  land  from  the  Bay  to  Vlache  Boss  is  low  and  level  without 
the  least  elevation.  On  our  return  from  this  ramble,  we  found  Jan 
Theuinessen  had  come  back  with  his  company.  He  welcomed  us, 
but  somewhat  coldly,  and  so  demeaned  himself  all  the  time  we  were 
there  as  to  astonish  my  comrade  at  the  change,  but  not  me,  for  I 
had  observed  this  falling  off  while  we  were  yet  at  sea  and  were 
approaching  the  land." 

On  Tuesday,  the  3rd,  the  travelers  tell  of  rain  and  how  they 
were  kept  indoors.  They  also  tell  of  a  number  of  visitors  in  whom 
they  are  interested,  but  they  declare  them  to  be  "a  Godless  lot."  It 
is  very  evident  that  these  travelers,  who  were  also  something  of 
journalists  by  reason  of  keeping  this  accurate  journal  of  their  travels, 
not  only  read  but  also  gave  away  a  publication  entitled  "The  Chris- 
tian Principles,"  in  low  Dutch  language.  This  was  a  publication  of 
the  Labadists.  The  founder  of  this  organization  was  Jean  d'Labadie, 
born  near  Bordeaux,  France,  1610.  It  is  interesting  and  gratifying 
to  have  so  clear  a  sketch  made  of  Jacques  Corteljau,  the  founder  of 
New  Utrecht.  He  died  about  1693.  His  house  was  demolished.  No 
picture  exists  of  it.  There  has  been  a  Jacques  in  every  branch  of 
every  generation  of  the  Cortelyou  family. 

Following  the  Labadists  journey,  as  here  related,  there  is  recorded 
interesting  exchanges  of  land  properties  between  settlers  in  the 
Colonies,  New  Utrecht  not  excepted.  It  was  a  common  happening 
for  a  settler  to  vacate  his  first  land  grant  and  remove  to  another,  often 
to  another  village.  It  would  require  several  columns  to  chronicle 
all  these  moves  and  land  dealings,  to  say  nothing  of  family  and  church 
records.  Development  in  the  Colonies  was  steady  once  Indian  troubles 
ceased  and  the  government  maintained. 

During  1698  a  Militia  company  was  organized  in  New  Utrecht, 
with  John  Van  Dyke  captain;  Joost  Van  Brunt,  lieutenant;  Matys 
Smacks,  ensign.  (Stiles,  262.)  It  would  appear  to  have  been  a  local 
organization. 


PERIOD. 

Events  crowded  into  this  eventful  period  cover  so  much  in  the 
history  of  America  that  only  a  fragment  of  the  whole  can  be  placed 
in  New  Utrecht's  chapter  of  happenings.  Nevertheless  the  town- 
ship was  prominent  in  many  ways.  Its  colony  was  thriving;  its 
inhabitants  followed  their  vocations  in  peaceful  thrift.  Being  located 
by  waters  commanding  the  harbor  of  New  Amsterdam,  later  New 
York,  the  shore  frontage  of  New  Utrecht  became  famed  in  that  the 
British  first  set  foot  there  upon  American  land,  during  the  1776 
struggle.  The  community  was  a  farming  district ;  homes  were  scat- 
tered along  the  various  openings  of  forest  land.  Those  farms  by  the 
water  combined  a  fishery  as  part  occupation. 

On  January  19,  1708,  it  was  related  by  an  interested  community 
that  Jacobus  Wouterson  and  Joris  Green  had  walked  on  the  ice 
from  Staten  Island  to  Long  Island.  (Some  years  later  Col.  James 
C.  Church  did  the  same.  In  1752  a  team  passed  over  the  ice,  which 
was  recorded  as  a  remarkable  happening.) 

On  April  14,  1709,  a  land  transaction  occurred  between  Gysbert 
Lane,  of  New  Utrecht,  and  John  Van  Dyck,  of  the  same  place.  It 
comprised  50  acres,  bounded  southwest  by  land  of  John  Van  Dyck, 
southeast  by  Gravesend,  north  by  land  of  Jacob  Pardon,  northwest 
by  highway  to  Flatbush.  Also  another  tract  of  land  in  New  Utrecht 
of  30  acres,  bounded  east  by  highway  to  Flatbush,  northwest  on  land 
of  Roelof  Van  Kerck,  and  southwest  by  the  common  woods  of  New 
Utrecht.  Also  a  lot  belonging  to  Anthony  Holsaert.  Signed,  Gysbert 
Lane  (his  mark)  X  ;  Jannetje  Lane  (her  mark)  X- 
Witnesses, 

Joosx  VAN  BRUNT, 

RUTGERT  VAN  BRUNT,  Jr. 

During  1716,  the  first  judge  of  the  Court  of  Common  Pleas  was 
Cornelis  Van  Brunt.  The  first  assistant  judge  was  Pieter  Corteljau, 
1702.  This  was  doubtless  the  Corteljau  who  in  1749  was  mentioned 
as  "having  a  large  number  of  shad  caught  in  the  seines  by  his  home 
at  the  Narrows,  April  2,  1749." 

The  first  Highway  Commissioners  for  the  town  were  Aert  Van 
Pelt  and  Andries  Emans,  1721. 

i 706- (1720). 

Hendrick  Hendrickson,  yoeman,  of  New  Utrecht,  and  Helena 
his  wife,  sold  land  to  Jacques  Tunise,  of  New  Utrecht,  yoeman,  for 
900  L.  It  was  "all  that  certain  dwelling  house  and  land  at  a  place 

39 


called  Nyack,  then  in  possession  of  Hendrick  Hendrickson  bounded 
south  by  the  land  of  Jacques  Corteljau  and  Peter  Corteljau,  east  by 
the  woods  of  New  Utrecht,  north  by  the  land  of  William  Burkalo  and 
Mary  his  wife,  west  by  the  Salt  Water  River,  as  it  was  laid  out  by 
said  Peter  Corteljau  and  surveyed  by  said  Peter  Corteljau  date  of 
August,  1706."  There  was  also  a  woodlot  in  New  Utrecht  known  as 
No.  33  and  No.  25. 

Signed  by  HENDRICK  HENDRICKSON  and 
HELENA  HENDRICKSON, 

(their  marks) 
October  10,  1720. 

(NOTE — Copied  from  an  old  document;  lower  half  of  page  readable;  upper  half 
torn  away.  Carpenter  papers). 

1706.  "and  so  along  the  south  side  of  Woughters  Orchard  and  so 
along  the  South  side  of  his  house,  between  his  House  and  Barn  to  the  Bank 
by  the  River  Side  and  so  along  the  said  Bank  to  the  house  of  Sharon 
Van  Dyke  and  to  continue  over  one  common  highway  to  begin  from 
the  Gate  in  New  Utrecht  town,  opposite  to  the  turners  Hendrick 
Jansen's  house  and  that  goes  to  the  House  of  Capt.  Jacques  Cortelyou 
and  so  from  the  Gate  between  the  land  of  Rutt  Jooste  and " 

(Balance  of  the  opposite  page,  lower  half  reads:) 

"is  formerly  used  by  Janse  Van  Metern  till  it  comes  to  the  Island 
of  Capt.  Joost  Van  Brunt  which  formerly  was  possessed  by  Janse 
Van  Matern. 

"One  common  highway  beginning  from  William  Bennett's 
land  to  the  swinging  gate  of  Simon  DeHart  and  so  strait  along  over 
the  land  of  said  Simon  DeHart,  East  by  the  swamp  of  the  said  Simon 
DeHart  and  so  along  over  the  land  of  Wouter  Van  Pelt  and  so  along 
over  the  lands  of  Claes  Van  Dyke,  John  Pieterse,  Hendrick  Van  Dyke, 
Tink  Van  Dyke,  Bernardus  Johannes " 

April  4th,  1708.  Helena  Hendrickson  writes  a  paper  in  which 
she  states  that  her  son  Jacques  Denyse  and  her  son-in-law,  Hendrick 
Van  Louwres,  shall  take  the  administration  of  her  personal  estate 
which  properly  belonged  to  her,  pursuant  to  the  agreement  made 
between  her  and  her  then  husband,  Hendrick  Hendrickson.  She 
decrees  that  all  her  children  shall  have  equal  portion,  also  her  son 
Nicholas  Van  Brunt,  deceased,  whose  heirs  shall  have  one  equal 
share  of  her  personal  estate.  Signed  the  27th  day  of  October,  1726. 

By  HELENA  HENDRICKSON,  her  mark  H. 

(This  is  Helena,  daughter  of  Jacques  Corteljau,  who  married 
first,  Nicholas  Van  Brunt ;  second,  Denyse  Denyse ;  third,  Hendrick 
Hendrickson.) 

40 


June  10,  1715.  From  an  old  document  it  is  gathered  that  a  land 
transaction  occurred  between  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  and  Johannis  Swart 
(or  Swartout),  both  yeoman  of  New  Utrecht,  for  the  sum  of  143 
pounds,  current  money  of  New  York,  paid  by  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  to 
said  Johannis  Swart.  The  following  land  became  the  property  of  Van 
Brunt :  "All  that  Tract  of  land  lying  and  being  in  the  Lemmits  &  Bounds 
of  New  Utrecht,  containing  28  acres,  more  or  less,  now  in  the  posses- 
sion of  said  Johannis  Swart,  bounded  Northwest  by  the  Rode,  North- 
east by  the  land  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  aforeto,  South  west  by  Johan- 
nis Swart  aforeto,  Southeast  by  the  bounds  of  Gravesend,  North- 
woods.  Also  another  Tract  or  Spot  of  land  and  swamp,  containing  2 
acres,  now  in  fence,  lying  in  the  bounds  of  Gravesend,  bounded  South- 
east by  the  land  of  Cornelius  Van — eef,  deceased,  Northwest  by 
Johannis  Swart,  Southwest  it  leads  to  the  swamp  as  far  as  lot  No.  I. 

Rebecka  Swart,  wife  of  the  said  Johannis  Swart,  doth  by  these 
presents  freely  give  up  and  surrender  all  her  Rights  of  Dowry  and 
Power  of  thirds,  unto  the  above  Demised  premises,  to  him  the  said 
Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  his  heirs  etc.  JOHANNIS  SWART  his  mark. 

Signed  in  presence  of  REBECKA  SWART  her  mark 

JAN  VAN  DYCK  (his  mark) 

December,  1720.  A  land  matter  between  Anthony  Holsaert  and 
Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  December  14,  1720. 

Both  are  of  the  township  of  "New  uytrecht  in  Kings  county  on 
the  Island  of  Nassau  and  province  of  New  Yorke — yoemen.  That 
Anthony  Holsaert,  for  consideration  of  the  sum  of  353  pounds,  current 
money,  paid  by  said  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  doth  hereby  acknowledge 
himself  fully  satisfied  and  contented  and  doth  acquit  and  confirm  unto 
said  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  all  that  Tract  of  land  lying  and  being  in  the 
bounds  of  New  uytrecht  aforesaid,  containing  34  acres,  bounded 
North  west  by  the  Rode,  Northeast  by  land  of  Michael  Van  der  Veer, 
southeast  partly  by  said  Michael,  partly  by  land  of  Jan  Van  Dyck, 
Southwest  by  said  Van  Dyck.  Also  that  certain  wood  lot  in  the  town- 
ship of  New  uytrecht  in  the  first  division  No.  16,  containing  30  acres 
&  one  quarter,  now  in  possession  of  Anthony  Holsaert,  bounded 
Southeast  by  land  of  Joost  Van  Brunt,  Southwest  by  the  lot  of  Rutgert 
Van  Pelt,  Northwest  by  the  second  division,  Northeast  by  the  lot  of 
Aurt  Van  Pelt.  Also  one  meadow  lot  lying  at  Canarsie  and  is  No. 
8,  with  one  whole  right  or  share  in  all  the  undivided  meadow  of  New 
uytrecht  at  Canarsie — together  with  all  manner  of  housings,  fencings, 
feedings,  pastures,  etc."  Signed  by  ANTHONY  HOLSAERT. 

Witnesses:         SPERLING. 

VAN  BRUNT. 

41 


1721.  An  Indenture  made  the  I4th  day  of  August,  1721,  relates 
that  Anthony  Holsaert,  of  Breucklen,  in  Kings  County,  yeoman,  and 
Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  of  New  Utrecht,  yeoman,  agreed  about  a  parcel 
of  land.  For  the  sum  of  82  pounds,  paid  by  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  to 
Anthony  Holsaert,  the  following  land  became  Van  Brunt's:  "All 
that  tract  or  woodland  situate  in  the  town  of  New  Utrecht,  which  is 
the  Southeastermost  end  of  lot  No.  4  in  the  second  Division,  contain- 
ing ten  acres  &  one  quarter,  bounded  Northeast  of  lot  No.  3  belong- 
ing to  Marya  Koerten,  Southeast  by  land  of  Jan  Van  Dyck,  South- 
west by  lot  No.  5,  belonging  to  Roelof  Ver  Kerck,  Northwest  by  the 
remaining  6  acres  &  ^  of  said  lot  No.  4,  now  in  possession  of  Michiel 
Van  der  Veer,  together  with  all  the  woods,  timber  thereon  lying  or 
growing,  waters,  springs,  etc."  Signed  by  ANTHONY  HOLSAERT. 
Witnesses: 

JAN  VAN  DYCK  (his  mark). 

HENDRICK  SUYDAME. 

1726.  September  14,  1726,  there  was  a  land  and  house  agreement 
between  John  Van  Dyck  and  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  of  New  Utrecht. 
The  land  mentioned  was  bounded  Northwest  by  the  road  leading  from 
New  Utrecht  by  the  land  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  and  Michael  Van  der 
Veer,  Southeast  by  the  bounds  of  Gravesend,  being  lot  No.  II,  or  12 
acres.    The  document  was  signed  by  John  Van  Dyck ;  witnesses  were 
Daniel  Hendrick,  H.  M.  Sperling  and  Gerret — (name  not  decipherable). 

1727.  An  interesting  document,  yellow  and  worn  yet  quite  read- 
able is  that  telling  how  Hendrick  Hendrickson  makes  Jacques  Denys 
his  lawful  attorney.     Hendrick  could  not  write  English.     The  paper 
is  signed  by  mark.    Witnesses  to  the  paper  were  able  to  write  Eng- 
lish, as  testified  by  their  signatures.     In  this  careful  document  Hen- 
drick Hendrickson  chose  said  Jacques  Denyse  to  be  his  lawful  attor- 
ney in  various  matters  and  to  act  as  such.    Dated  April  28,  1727. 
Witnesses:  Signed  by  HENDRICK  HENDRICKSON  (his  mark). 

S.  GERRITSEN, 

PlETER   CORTELYOU. 

1729.  Indenture,  July  15,  1729.  John  Pieterse,  of  Yellow  Hook, 
Township  of  New  Utrecht  and  wife,  Georhug,  and  Abraham  Depey- 
ster,  of  New  York.  Said  John  Pieterse  and  wife,  for  consideration 
of  166  pounds,  sold  unto  Depeyster  "all  that  certain  dwelling  house 
and  orchard,  situate  on  Yellow  Hook,  now  in  possession  of  John 
Pieterse — also  that  parcel  of  ground  adjoining,  containing  30  acres — 
Northwest  to  the  River,  Southwest  by  the  land  late  of  Rutgert  Van 
Brunt,  containing  120  acres  and  dwelling  house, — also  ^4  right  of 
privilege  in  the  common  woodland  of  New  Utrecht,  with  all  the 

42 


houses,  barns,  gardens,  fences,  trees,  fields,  marshes,  Fishing,  Fowling 
— which  said  last  mentioned  dwelling  house  was  sold  to  John  Pieterse 
by  Jacob  Zudkin  and  Antie,  his  wife,  per  their  deed,  January  2,  1718, 
— reserving  out  of  this  parcel  75  acres,  which  John  Pieterse  hath 
lately  sold  to  Thomas  Stilwell  of  Kings  County. 

Signed  JOHN  PIETERSE  and  wife  GEORHUG. 

(NOTE — Mortgage  for  above  deed  was  transferred  to  Denyse  Denyse  by  Abra- 
ham Depeyster,  July  15,  1731.  Jan  Pieterse's  wife  was  Geertje;  she  died  bet.  1729 
and  1731.  He  was  thereupon  released  from  the  debt,  Denyse  Denyse  assumed  the 
mortgage.  The  house  and  land  were  at  Yellow  Hook,  bounded  Southwest  by  land 
of  Thomas  Stilwell,  Southeast  by  woodlands  of  New  Utrecht,  Northeast  by  High- 
way land  bet.  Thomas  Van  Dyck,  Northwest  by  Bank  or  River. — Also  9  acres,  part 
of  Lot  No.  4.) 

During  1738  it  was  recorded  that  New  Utrecht's  population  was 
about  282  persons. 

February  8,  1749.  Land  transaction  between  Johannis  Willemse 
Wyckof,  of  Flatlands,  in  Kings  Co.,  and  Denyse  Denyse  of  New- 
uytreght,  same  Co.,  and  Collony — that  Wyckof,  for  sum  of  28  Ibs., 
bargained  and  sold  to  Denyse  Denyse,  all  that  meadow  situate  in 
Flatlands,  containing  2  acres  &  j^,  bounded  Easterly  by  Johannis 
Wyckof's,  Westerly  by  John  Vanderbilt's. 
Witnesses  :  Signed  by  JOHANNIS  WILLEMSE  WYCKOF. 

JOHANNES  LOTT, 

JAN  AMERMAN. 

During  1760  it  is  recorded  that  Joost  Van  Brunt  built  the  watch 
house  at  Gravesend,  it  being  considered  a  responsible  work. 

New  Utrecht  had  no  disastrous  scourge  of  smallpox  previous 
to  the  1776  war.  About  November  14,  1763,  Dr.  George  Muirson, 
known  for  skill  and  care  in  curing  smallpox,  established  two  hospitals 
on  Shelter  Island  for  inoculation.  There  were  some  cases  in  New 
Utrecht,  but  no  epidemic. 

"BUSINESS  TROUBLES  OF  JAQUES  DENYSE,  JR." 

Jacques  Denise,  Jr.,  son  of  Denyse  Denyse  of  New  Utrecht,  received  as  loan 
from  Nicholas  Cowenhoven,  son  of  John,  the  sum  of  £124.  Signed  June  25,  1771- 
Witnesses,  Garret  Vandine  and  Adam  Boldoridg. 

On  Oct.  i,  1772,  he  received  from  Garret  Van  Duyn  £43.  Document  signed 
by  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr.  Witnesses,  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  and  Janetie  Cowenhoven. 

Also  on  Oct.  i,  1772,  Jaques  De  Nise  was  indebted  to  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  Esq., 
for  £40. 

Another  sum  loaned  Jaques,  was  £120  by  May  20,  1/74.  Witnesses  were 
Peter  and  John  Lefferts. 

On  May  20,  1775,  Cornelius  Cornel  gave  a  receipt  to  Denyse  Denyse  for  £75 
due  Cornel  on  a  bond  of  Jaques  Denyse,  son  of  Denyse  Denyse. 

43 


Next  loan  mentioned,  is  Aug.  14,  1775,  when  Jaques  Denyse,  son  of  Denyse 
Denyse,  was  indebted  to  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  for  £50.  Witnesses  Antie  Van 
Horn  and  N.  Cowenhoven.  Signed,  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr. 

NOTE — A  loan  to  Jaques  Denyse,  yeoman  of  New  Utrecht,  from  Denyse  Denyse, 
for  70  pounds.  (This  paper,  signed  by  Jaques,  was  witnessed  by  Hendrick  Johnson 
and  Petries  Van  Pelt). 

Why  Jaques  should  have  had  occasion  to  borrow  money  so  often 
has  not  been  made  clear  by  any  documents  yet  found.  Rev.  Hugh 
Smith  Carpenter  said,  (1895),  that  Jaques,  son  of  Denyse  Denyse, 
was  "considerably  of  a  good  spender."  He  also  had  a  large  family 
to  raise.  It  was  for  this  reason,  declared  Dr.  Carpenter,  that  Denyse 
Denyse  had  intrusted  the  care  of  his  property  to  his  daughters  and 
also  his  papers.  Records  found  fully  verify  this  statement.  The 
other  Jaques  Denyse  in  the  Township  at  the  time,  was  a  brother  of 
Denyse  Denyse  and  so  uncle  to  Jaques,  spender  and  father  of  many 
children.  In  the  book  "Our  Ancestors,"  it  has  been  stated  that 
1776  war  service  found,  would  apparently  belong  to  the  uncle. 
Descendants  must  prove  this  soldier  service  for  themselves. 

September  3,  1762.  A  document  bearing  the  above  date  relates 
much  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  of  New  Utrecht.  On  July  17,  1752,  he 
made  his  last  will  and  testament,  devising  to  his  four  daughters  and 
their  heirs,  the  piece  of  land  he  then  owned.  These  daughters  were 
stated  to  be:  Altje,  wife  of  Nicholas  Still  well,  of  Gravesend;  Maria, 
widow  of  Joris  Lott,  deceased,  of  New  Utrecht ;  Tryntje,  wife  of  John 
Rapalje,  of  the  Township  of  Breucklen;  Teuntje,  wife  of  Denyse 
Denyse,  of  New  Utrecht.  Under  this  last  will  he  appointed  his  four 
daughters  to  be  executrix  of  his  estate.  (His  only  son  was  drowned.) 

Under  date  of  September  3,  1762,  it  is  told  in  document  form 
that  the  four  daughters  quit  claim  unto  Teuntje,  the  wife  of  Denyse 
Denyse,  one  certain  parcel  of  land  in  New  Utrecht,  for  a  competent 
sum  of  money  in  hand,  paid  by  Teuntje.  The  land  was  bounded  by 
garden  of  Maria  Lott,  thence  south  to  Indian  Pond,  to  land  of  Altie 
Stilwell,  to  land  of  Gerrit  Cowenhoven,  113  acres.  Also  a  piece  of 
woodland,  part  of  Lot  No.  i,  by  woodland  of  Joost  Van  Brunt,  to 
woods  of  Tryntie,  wife  of  John  Rapalje,  to  woods  of  Hendrick  John- 
son, deceased.  Also  a  parcel  called  No.  4,  woods  bounded  by  land 
of  Joris  Lott,  deceased,  17.  acres.  Also  a  parcel  of  land  by  Altie 
Rapalje  to  woods  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  containing  8^4  acres.  Also 
a  piece  of  woodland,  part  of  No.  14,  to  woods  of  Casper  Crapser,  to 
Altie  Stilwell,  containing  8  1-3  acres.  Also  a  piece  of  land  in  Flat- 
lands,  called  Vrisen  Hook,  by  meadow  of  William  Kouwenhoven. 
Also  a  piece  of  meadow  in  Flatlands,  bounded  by  land  of  Andries 

44 


Emans,  deceased.  Signed  by  Nicholas  Stilwell  and  Altie  Stilwell. 
Witnesses,  Johannis  Lott,  Engelbert  Lott.  September  23,  1762. 

Casper  Crepser  and  Denyse  Denyse.  June  27,  1766.  An  indenture 
made  between  Casper  Crepser,  of  New  Utrecht,  yeoman,  and  Denyse 
Denyse,  yeoman,  of  the  Narrows, — that  said  Casper  Crepsen  for 
consideration  of  4  and  Y^  acres  of  land,  granted  from  said  Denyse 
Denyse  to  said  Casper  Crepser,  instead  for  the  land  which  Casper 
Crepser  has  now  transferred  by  these  presents  to  said  Denyse  Denyse, 
the  receipt  whereof  Casper  Crepser  doth  acknowledge  himself  to  be 
satisfied  with,  have  granted  to  Denyse  Denyse  a  piece  of  woodland 
situate  in  Township  of  New  Utrecht,  bounded  by  woodland  and  fence 
of  Isaac  Cortelyou,  to  woods  of  Casper  Crepser,  to  woods  of  Denyse 
Denyse,  thence  by  woods  of  Albert  Van  Brunt,  containing  3^4  acres, 
being  a  part  of  woodlot  known  as  No.  15.  Signed  by  Casper  Crepser 
(his  mark).  Witnesses,  John  Lefferts,  Engelbert  Lott.  June  27,  1766. 

Denyse  Denyse  and  Isaac  Cortelyou.  1768.  A  document  telling 
of  dispute  and  final  settlement  between  Denyse  Denyse  and  Isaac 
Cortelyou  regarding  land  boundaries  is  thus  told. 

"John  Lefferts,  Engelbart  Lott  and  Simon  Boerum,  Esq.,  all  of 
Kings  County  on  Nassau  Island,  send  greeting,  whereas  great  Strife, 
debate,  Controversy  hath  heretofore  been  and  Stirred  between  Denyse 
Denyse  and  Isaac  Cortelyou  of  New  Utrecht  in  Kings  County  in  the 
province  of  Newyork  for  and  concerning  the  Partition  Line  between 
the  said  Denyse  Denyse  and  said  Isaak  Cortelyou,  as  far  as  the  land  of 
Denyse  Denyse  and  Isaak  Cortelyou  join  each  other,  for  the  appeas- 
ing and  Ending  whereof  either  of  said  parties  by  their  mutual  consent 
and  agreement  have  submitted  and  bound  themselves  either  to  the 
other  by  their  several  Writings,  bearing  date  the  I5th  day  of  June, 
1768,  in  the  Sum  of  500  pounds,  current  money  of  New  York  to  stand, 
obey,  abide,  perform,  fulfill  and  keep  the  award,  order  final  End  and 
Determination  of  us,  the  said  John  Lefferts,  Engelbart  Lott  and 
Simon  Boerum,  Arbitrators  indifferently  elected  and  chosen  between 
the  said  parties  to  arbitrate,  award,  order  for  the  premises — now 
know  ye,  that  we,  the  said  Arbitrators  having  taken  upon  ourselves 
the  Business  and  charge  of  the  award  and  willing  to  let  the  said 
Parties  at  Pease  and  Concord  by  making  a  final  End  and  Determina- 
tion concerning  the  premises  in  manner  and  form  following,  which 
for  certain  Reason  we  Judge,  Order,  Determine  and  award  that  the 
partition  Line  between  the  land  of  Denyse  Denyse  and  the  land  of 
Isaak  Cortelyou  shall  run  the  same  course  as  the  line  runs  between 
the  land  of  Peter  Cortelyou,  Esq.,  and  the  land  of  said  Denyse  Denyse 
— that  is  to  say,  the  said  lines  begins  by  a  sasafras  mark  stake  stand- 

45 


ing  at  the  Northeastermost  End  of  a  certain  Krupelbush  or  swamp 
on  the  partition  line  between  the  land  of  said  Peter  Cortelyou  and 
the  land  of  said  Denyse  Denyse,  running  from  the  sasafras  mark 
stake  between  their  lands,  North  29  degrees  and  30  minutes  East, 
as  far  as  the  land  of  said  Peter  Cortelyou  extends,  and  so  on  with 
the  said  course  of  North  29  degrees  and  30  minutes  East  between 
the  land  of  Denyse  Denyse  and  the  land  of  said  Isaak  Cortelyou,  as 
far  as  the  land  of  Denyse  Denyse  joins  the  land  of  Isaak  Cortelyou 
so  as  the  said  line  is  now  marked  and  staked  out — in  witness  whereof 
we,  the  said  Arbitrators  have  put  our  hands  and  seals  the  I5th  day 
of  July,  1768." 

Signed  by  John  Lefferts,  Engelbert  Lott,  S.  Boerum,  Esq.  Wit- 
nesses, Johannes  Lott,  Philip  Nagel.  July  15,  1768. 

June  2,  1770.  "Know  all  men  by  these  presents,  that  we,  Jaques 
Denyse  and  Denyse  Denyse,  the  father  of  said  Jaques  Denyse,  both 
of  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht,  am  held  and  firmly  bound  unto 
Nicholas  Cowenhoven  of  the  County  and  Township  aforesaid,  a  son 
of  John  Cowehoven,  in  the  sum  of  350  Ibs.  The  condition  of  above 
obligation  is  that  if  Jaques  Denyse  or  Denyse  Denyse  cause  to  be 
paid  the  sum  of  175  Ibs.,  before  next  May,  the  obligation  is  void. 
Signed  by  Jaques  Denyse,  Jun.,  and  Denyse  Denyse.  Witnesses 
Jaques  Denyse  and  Hendrick  Johnson.  June  2,  1770.  (This  alone 
proves  the  existence  of  two  Jaques  Denyses,  uncle  and  nephew. 
Below  is  given  a  military  title  to  the  uncle.*) 

June  25,  1771.  "This  Indenture,  made  the  25th  day  of  June,  1771, 
between  Jaques  Denise,  Jr.,  son  of  Denise  Denise  of  the  Township 
of  New  Utrecht  and  Ann,  his  wife,  of  the  one  part,  and  Nicholas  Cowen- 
hoven of  the  Township  aforesaid,  of  the  other  part,  witnesseth  that 
said  Jaques  Denise  by  and  with  the  advice,  consent  and  good  liking 
of  his  said  wife  Ann,  for  and  consideration  of  the  sum  of  60  pounds, 
to  them  paid,  the  receipt  they  hereby  acknowledge  and  themselves 
to  be  satisfied,  have  sold  all  that  parcel  of  land,  given  by  deed  of 
Denise  Denise  to  his  son  Jaques,  of  19  acres,  bounded  by  land  of 
Roelof  Van  Brunt  deceased,  Northerly  by  land  of  *Capt.  Jaques 
Denise,  Easterly  by  woods  of  Isaac  Cortelyou  and  of  Zacharia  Voor- 
hees,  Southerly  by  Adrian  Hegeman,  unto  the  said  Nicholas  Cowen- 
hoven, to  whom  shall  be  paid  the  sum  of  60  Ibs.  with  interest  at 
6%  from  June  25,  1771.  Then  the  above  Indenture  shall  be  void. 
Signed  by  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr.,  and  Anne  Denyse. 

May  29,  1775.  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr.,  also  promised  to  pay  to  his 
father,  Mr.  Denyse  Denyse,  or  his  order,  the  sum  of  486  Ibs.,  18  shill., 
for  sundry  sums  advanced  and  paid  by  him  from  time  to  time  to 
sundry  persons,  for  my  use  and  benefit,  list  as  annexed  hereunto ; 

46 


To  John  Degras,  Jaques  Van  Brunt,  George  Folliott,  John  Van 
Kirk,  Adrian  Hagaman,  Rutger  Van  Brunt,  Adrian  Van  Brunt,  Cor- 
nelis  Connell,  Nicholas  Cowenhoven,  Tacol  Lefferts ;  total  of  486  Ibs., 
18  shill. 

August  15,  1775.  An  indenture  made  by  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr.,  son 
of  Denyse  Denyse,  of  New  Utrecht,  in  favor  of  Nicholas  Cowenhoven. 
It  would  appear  that  Jaques,  being  unable  to  repay  all  the  cash  loans, 
made  him  satisfy  the  creditor,  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  by  assigning 
to  him  some  household  goods,  also  chattels,  as  follows :  "One  Negro 
female  slave  named  'Dine/  two  beds  and  two  bedsteads  and  the  fur- 
niture to  the  same  belonging,  one  gray  mare  and  her  colt,  one  brown 
mare,  four  milch  cows  and  one  lookingglass,  to  have  and  to  hold 
all  and  singular  the  said  goods  and  chattels  above,  by  these  presents 
granted,  bargained,  etc."  April  following  he  was  to  pay  to  Nicholas 
Cowenhoven  the  sum  of  6o£.  Signed  by  Jaques  Denyse,  Jr.  Wit- 
nesses, Nicholas  Cowenhoven,  Antie  Van  Dorn.  August  15,  1775. 

A  written  postscript  to  this  document  is  entered  in  the  writing 
of  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  wherein  he  states,  "Know  all  men  by  these 
presents  that  for  the  sum  of  twenty-five  pounds  to  me  in  hand  paid 
by  Uncle  Denice  Denice,  I  do  therefor  sell  and  sign  over  all  my 
Right  and  title  to  within  Mortgage  and  the  Bond  thereto." 

Deed  registered  in  the  Clerk's  office  of  Kings  County  by  John 
Rapalje. 


47 


1775- 
THE  REVOLUTIONARY  WAR. 

WHILE  New  Utrecht  bears  the  distinction  of  being  chosen  by 
the  British  for  their  landing  on  American  ground  August, 
1776,   there   were   no   desperate   battle   scenes   close   to  the 
several  villages  comprising  the  township.    Echoes  of  the  British  were, 
of  course,  on  every  side  but  no  fierce  fights  occurred.     The  English 
confiscated  and  ruined  much   during  their  occupancy  of  the  farm- 
houses and  buildings  in  every  section  thereabouts.     Residents  were 
compelled  to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance,  hated  by  the  great  majority, 
yet  necessary  if  home  and  family  were  to  be  saved.     Property  was 
confiscated  right  and  left,  the  women  of  the  various  households  being 


The  Pieter  Cortelyou  house.  Built  about  1700.  Stones  used 
in  it  were  from  the  Jacques  Corteljau  house,  1693  date.  Pieter 
died  1757.  His  son  Jacques  died  1757,  whose  son  Simon  Cortel- 
you was  next  occupant  {grandson  of  Pieter).  Then  came  Simon f 
Jr.  It  was  called  "The  Simon  Cortelyou  house."  Previously  it 
had  been  pictured  as  the  Jacques  Cortelyou  house.  Property  sold 
to  William  Post,  1836.  Government  acquired  deed  1802.  House 
demolished  1894,  amid  profound  sorrow  by  Government  officials, 
the  structure  being  a  splendid  example  of  Colonial  type.  The 
sum  of  $1,000  would  have  saved  the  house. 

usually  at  home  alone  with  their  children,  those  too  young  to  join 
the  militia,  who  were  off  fighting  for  American  Independence. 

Those  New  Utrecht  citizens  who  did  not  wear  the  "red  rag,"  as 
the  British  signet  was  contemptuously  called,  were  in  danger  of  life 
as  well  as  loss  of  worldly  goods.  The  settlers  wisely  accepted 
enforced  conditions.  The  men  of  their  families  were  "in  the  ranks." 
As  records  of  the  town  were  kept  in  the  English  language  by  that 
time  it  has  not  been  difficult  to  ascertain  many  interesting  facts 

48 


relating  to  that  period.  History  tells  of  the  memorable  landing  of 
the  British,  as  it  does  of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island.  Many  stories 
have  been  printed  (inaccurately)  regarding  the  exact  spot  where  the 
British  landed  August  22,  1775.  It  was  between  the  Simon  Cortelyou 
house  and  Bath  where  British  soldiers  first  set  foot  on  American 
soil  for  the  great  1776  struggle.  The  original  Jacques  Cortelyou 
house  had  become  part  of  the  fort  and  of  Simon  Cortelyou's  house. 
The  later  date  Jacques  house  (between  Gelston's  home  and  Simon's) 
was  later  sold,  and  still  later  went  into  the  fort  as  good  stone. 

Tradition  and  fact  in  the  Cortelyou  family  have  it  that  Nancy 
Corteljau,  seeing  the  soldiers  landing,  impulsively  rushed  out  on  the 
high  ground  near  her  home  and  enthusiastically  waved  to  them,  using 


The  Jacques,  later  Timothy  T.,  Cortelyou  house.  Stood  West  of 
Simon  Cortelyou  house,  near  Denyse  Denyse  estate.  Timothy 
T.  sold  his  place  to  John  Delaplaine,  1800  period.  Became  Gov- 
ernment property.  House  demolished  Civil  War  period. 


her  red  petticoat  for  a  flag.  Red  was  the  British  color.  It  appeared 
like  a  welcome  to  them.  They  responded.  At  any  rate,  Nancy's 
warm  greeting  has  been  handed  down  as  a  matter  of  history,  being 
part  cause  of  Cortelyou  descendants  understanding  their  ancestors 
were  Tories.  Nancy  was  not  a  young  girl,  but  a  grown  woman. 
The  authority  for  such  statement  is  Mr.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  historian 
for  his  family. 

The  16,000  British  landed  on  the  morning  of  August  22,  1776,  and 

4  49 


immediately  took  possession  of  the  surrounding  neighborhood,  preparatory 
to  progressing  toward  Breucklen.  Col.  William  J.  Cropsey  in  his 
reminiscences,  declared  it  true  that  the  British  soldiers  entered  his 
grandmother's  home  on  Kings  Highway  and  there  devoured  all  the 
freshly  baked  food  she  had  spent  that  morning  preparing  for  her  own 
family.  The  Englishmen  went  down  in  the  cellar  and  took  all  they 
could  find  there. 

Her  husband  was  not  at  home ;  she  had  to  submit  to  the  depreda- 
tion. Milk  was  taken,  cattle  disturbed  and  her  otherwise  peaceful 
house  upset  by  the  onslaught  of  the  British.  This  good  Dutch  house- 
wife, grandmother  of  Colonel  Cropsey,  was  Femmetje  or  Phebe 
Bergen,  wife  of  Andries  Emans  or  Emmons.  Dr.  Frederick  De  Mund 
and  his  wife  afterward  resided  on  the  property.  John  Emmons  was 
the  last  occupant,  when  the  new  De  Mund  home  was  established  at 
Bensonhurst.  It  is  believed  the  house  was  moved  back  on  another 
street  when  84th  Street  went  through.  The  J.  Lott  Nostrand  home- 
stead was  close  by,  the  stone  portion  of  it  being  the  original  "de 
Barrie  house." 


The  J.  Lott  Nostrand  House,  Main  Street,  New  Utrecht  Village 
(Originally  the  "de  Barrie"  house) 


From  all  accounts,  the  British  visitors  took  the  best  of  every- 
thing and  at  once  domiciled  themselves  in  the  homes  of  the  helpless 
New  Utrecht  residents,  who  dared  not  rebel.  It  was  under  such 
intolerable  situation  that  matters  went  along  until  the  morning  of 
August  2/th,  when  the  memorable  Battle  of  Long  Island  was  fought. 

While  not  actually  in  the  Township  itself,  the  results  were  so 

50 


quickly  known  and  felt  as  to  make  the  happening  appear  to  have 
been  there,  as  well  as  in  the  Gowanus  section. 

The  Hessians,  commanded  by  General  Heister  were  the  main 
body  of  the  intruders.  The  English  were  under  General  Grant  at 
the  left,  the  other  corps  under  General  Clinton,  Lords  Percy  and 
Cornwallis. 

The  American  or  Long  Island  troops  were  commanded  by  Major 
General  Greene,  who  had  been  in  such  perfect  touch  with  the  situa- 
tion and  was  so  thoroughly  efficient  an  officer  that  General  Washing- 
ton did  not  think  it  even  necessary  to  aid  him  and  so  kept  away. 
But  General  Greene  fell  ill,  was  unable  to  command  his  troops  at 
the  last  moment  and  in  reluctant  despair  allowed  General  Sullivan 
to  take  his  place,  also  General  Putnam,  in  command  of  the  Brooklyn 
left  wing  of  the  Army  at  Wallabout  Bay  and  the  right  at  Gowanus 
Cove.  General  Sullivan  was  not  less  capable  an  officer  but  he  had 
not  had  time  to  study  the  situation  ere  he  was  plunged  into  battle. 
General  Greene,  rallying  from  illness  also  plunged  into  the  battle 
desperately,  but  was  unable  to  remedy  Sullivan's  oversight.  Too 
late  General  Washington  realized  his  mistake  and  hurriedly  strived 
to  correct  it,  but  to  no  purpose.  History  tells  how  the  brave  Amer- 
icans were  driven  back,  yet  further  back,  fighting  valiantly  but  hope- 
lessly. The  English  had  surprised  them  by  a  roundabout  "coup" 
that  left  no  chance  of  recovery.  Nearly  a  whole  regiment  of  brave 
Maryland  troops  were  sacrificed  at  Gowanus  in  that  battle  against 
odds. 

The  total  loss  to  the  American  side  was  estimated  to  be  in  the 
neighborhood  of  3,000  men  killed,  wounded  and  prisoners.  The  British 
lost  only  about  400  men. 

Aided  by  a  dense  fog,  which  seemed  to  be  a  Providential  happen- 
ing for  the  American  troops,  they  managed  to  retreat  across  the 
waters  of  the  harbor  under  General  Washington's  personal  direction. 
It  is  related  that  following  the  Battle  of  Long  Island  and  until  his 
troops  were  safely  moved  in  retreat,  General  Washington  did  not 
sleep,  the  strain  being  so  severe.  He  did  not  attach  any  blame  to 
General  Sullivan,  whose  sudden  and  totally  unexpected  assumption 
to  leadership  has  been  given  as  a  cause  for  the  defeat  of  the  American 
army  at  so  an  important  a  crisis. 

The  British,  once  in  power  made  their  power  felt. 

History  of  the  prison  ships  can  never  be  fully  told.  They  left 
their  imprint  upon  the  Nation's  history,  especially  that  of  Long 
Island.  It  is  needless  to  recount  all  those  horrors  here.  The  memory 
of  those  prison  ship  martyrs  has  been  fittingly  perpetuated  by  the 


tall  shaft  of  granite  erected  at  Fort  Greene  Park  several  years  ago. 
The  grandfather  of  Mrs.  S.  V.  White  (Mr.  Chandler),  had  been  a 
prisoner  on  board  the  "Jersey."  She  had  heard  him  tell  of  those 
dreadful  times.  It  inspired  her  to  seriously  take  up  the  matter  of  a 
monument  for  those  neglected  and  only  half  buried  heroes  of  the 
1776  war.  She  performed  her  work  so  well  that  the  monument  at 
Fort  Greene  Park  was  raised,  though  she  died  just  previous  to  its 
formal  dedication  and  unveiling. 

New  Utrecht  had  its  share  of  the  Prison  Ship  horrors  for  many 
of  the  native  soldiers  on  the  American  side  were  confined  aboard 
the  old  hulks  anchored  in  the  Wallabout  Bay.  All  sort  of  troubles 
arose  during  the  British  occupancy  of  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht. 
It  is  told  how  Captain  Hyler,  of  war  fame,  took  several  small  vessels 
and  exacted  contributions  from  fishermen  on  the  banks  of  the  water. 
He  was  often  on  Long  Island.  His  soldiers  were  once  encamped 
near  the  home  of  Michael  Bergen,  by  the  Gowanus  district,  and  from 
the  Bergen  home  he  took  a  Hessian  officer  late  one  night. 

As  for  Captain  Marriner,  mentioned  frequently  in  history,  it  is 
known  that  he  visited  Simon  Cortelyou  of  New  Utrecht  and  took 
him  to  New  Brunswick,  Marriner's  repayment  for  uncivil  conduct 
to  some  American  prisoners.  The  trip  to  Jersey,  while  planned  as 
a  trip  of  "payment"  nevertheless  resulted  in  Simon  Corteljau  being 
relieved  of  his  tankard  and  other  articles  of  value,  which  Captain 
Marriner  forgot  to  return. 

Dr.  Lawrence  B.  Cortelyou,  of  690  loth  Street,  Brooklyn,  was 
authority  (1893)  for  statements  regarding  his  family,  he  having  made 
a  special  study  of  historic  matters  relating  to  the  Cortelyous.  He 
declared  his  good  ancestors  to  have  been  "Neutrals"  not  Tories. 
There  was  a  difference,  so  he  stated.  Regarding  the  story  of  Marriner 
and  Simon  Cortelyou  it  was  related  by  Dr.  Cortelyou  that  his  father 
was  dining  at  a  Staten  Island  inn,  previous  to  1893,  when  his  eyes 
became  fastened  upon  some  of  the  table  silver.  It  was  Corteljau 
silver.  He  recognized  it  instantly.  Of  course  he  demanded  an  ex- 
planation of  its  presence  in  the  inn  but  could  not  recover  it,  much  to 
his  disappointment.  He  did  not  then  understand  how  the  silver  could 
have  been  on  Staten  Island,  but  the  story  of  Marriner  would  lend 
color  to  the  silver  getting  to  Jersey  and  so  back  to  Staten  Island. 

During  the  Revolutionary  days  a  raid  upon  the  Jacques  Cortelyou 
house  was  made  by  some  marauders  who  were  after  gold.  The 
thrifty  housewife  hid  the  family  gold  pieces  under  some  linen  in  the 
big  linen  press.  When  the  bottom  drawer  was  finally  pulled  out  by 
the  invaders,  the  smart  wife  drew  near,  scattering  the  gold  coin  all 

52 


about  the  room.  Then,  before  the  thieving  marauders  realized  what 
was  taking  place  she  had  swiftly  gathered  the  coin  together  in  a  pile 
on  the  floor  and  seated  herself  upon  the  pile.  The  sharp  trick  so 
amused  the  thieves  they  did  not  harm  her  but  instead  retreated  from 
the  house.  The  old  linen  press  was  in  the  home  of  Mrs.  Mary  L. 
Van  Brunt  some  years  ago.  The  story  was  told  by  Mrs.  Charles  F. 
Seaman,  nee  Van  Brunt,  who  descends  from  a  great-great-grand- 
mother Corteljau  and  so  knows  this  tale  to  be  true. 

Regarding  what  has  sometimes  been  related  as  a  first  elopement 
in  the  town  and  been  more  or  less  twisted  in  the  telling,  is  the  story 
of  Jane,  a  fair  young  daughter  of  the  house  of  Corteljau.  Jane  did 
not  elope;  she  was  secretly  married  to  a  young  Hessian  officer,  whom 
she  had  met  and  loved  at  sight.  His  name  was  Conrad.  He  was  a 
fine  fellow,  of  unblemished  character,  and  of  note  in  his  army  service. 
Dr.  Cortelyou  related  how  the  Simon  Cortelyou  family  was  deeply  angered. 
Jane  was  denied  sight  or  sound  of  her  lover  and  husband.  In  vain  the 
officer  showed  the  marriage  papers;  in  vain  he  pleaded;  in  vain  Jane 
added  her  pleadings — the  Corteljau  father  remained  obdurate  and 
refused  to  allow  Jane  out  of  the  house.  Finally,  after  that  last  bitter 
interview,  with  its  unsuccessful  termination  to  the  love  story,  the 
young  officer,  leaving  a  curse  for  Simon  Cortelyou,  walked  from  the 
house  to  the  bluff  overlooking  the  Narrows  and  there  shot  himself. 
The  effect  upon  Jane  was  saddening.  Her  child  was  known  as 
Hannah  Conrad.  This  love  story  and  tragedy  have  been  made  to 
appear  in  various  ways  but  here  is  the  true  one,  gleaned  from  docu- 
ments. (Mrs.  Rushmore,  477  Washington  Ave.,  Brooklyn.) 

Simon  Cortelyou  could  not  forgive  Jane  for  marrying  a  Hessian. 
That  was  the  hard  part  for  the  proud  Corteljau  father.  It  has  been 
told  that  Jane  was  kept  in  her  room,  locked  there,  so  that  she  could 
not  meet  her  young  lover,  which  part  of  the  pathetic  story  was  true. 
At  any  rate  Jane  died  broken  hearted,  her  husband's  tragic  death 
blighting  her  young  life.  Thus  the  Simon  Corteljau  homestead  by 
the  Narrows  had  a  tale  apart  from  any  British  intruders,  or  later  date 
events. 

Denys's  Ferry  was  also  the  scene  of  stirring  times  during  the 
war  of  1776.  Records  tell  that  "in  July,  1776,  a  British  vessel,  the 
'Asia,'  was  fired  on  by  a  small  Long  Island  Battery,  established  by 
American  patriots  near  the  homes  of  Denys  Denys  and  Abraham 
Bennet.  A  return  volley  badly  damaged  both  houses."  (Page  263, 
Stiles  His.  of  Bklyn.) 

Beside  this  sort  of  excitement  there  must  have  been  the  constant 
crossing  over  the  ferry  between  the  settlement  called  Narrows  and 
the  Staten  Island  shore.  In  fact  much  that  happened  on  Staten  Island 

53 


has  some  bearing  on  New  Utrecht  history,  the  British  being  in  both 
places  and  frequently  establishing  connection.  This  accounts  for 
various  land  transactions  of  New  Utrecht  colonists  on  Staten  Island 
and  even  in  New  Jersey.  There  are  no  records  discovered  thus  far 
that  tell  of  Lord  Howe's  trips  across  Denys's  ferry,  but  he  must 
have  gone  by  that  route.  Lord  Howe  was  at  Gowanus,  at  the  Narrows 
and  he  was  also  on  Staten  Island.  He  was  in  both  Cortelyou  homes, 
they  being  Loyalists.  The  British  Spy,  Frank  James,  of  the  ship 
"Asia,"  lured  American  vessels  and  then  robbed  them.  Christopher 
Duyinck,  of  New  York,  lay  in  the  reeds  of  Narrows  locality  many 
days,  to  capture  James. 

Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen,  of  Brooklyn,  has  much  data  regarding  his 
ancestral  home  at  Gowanus,  especially  during  troublous  war  days. 
The  British  were  in  full  possession  there.  It  happened  that  a  real 
true  ghost  story  was  attached  to  the  Bergen  homestead  there.  The 
thrilling  tale  has  been  handed  down  and  believed  through  many  gen- 
erations of  the  Bergen  family.  While  the  British  and  General  Howe 
occupied  allotted  portions  of  the  homestead  some  of  the  officers  saw 
fit  to  hang  three  paintings  on  the  wall  in  the  main  hall.  These  were 
of  William  IV ;  a  court  lady ;  a  battle  scene.  Lord  Howe  was  deeply 
interested  in  the  three  paintings.  After  the  American  victory  and 
final  departure  of  the  Britishers  from  American  shores,  the  Bergen 
family  once  more  resumed  their  quiet  life  in  their  home.  The  paint- 
ings were  allowed  to  remain ;  no  one  would  take  them  down.  Until 
the  house  was  demolished  about  1898-99,  they  remained  exactly  as 
the  officer  hung  them.  The  strange  part  lay  in  the  fact  that  regularly, 
on  the  exact  anniversary  of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island  and  exactly  at 
midnight,  strange  sounds  were  heard  back  of  the  three  pictures.  Then 
heavy  footsteps  would  be  heard  coming  slowly  down  the  stairs,  the 
clanking  of  sword  and  clatter  of  spurs  being  plainly  heard.  These 
slow,  firm  steps  always  paused  in  front  of  the  paintings,  then  passed 
on  to  the  rear  hall  door,  when,  with  a  loud  rattle  of  chain  and  bolt 
the  door  would  be  unfastened  and  the  sound  of  the  steps  would  pass 
out.  Tradition  has  it  that  it  was  Lord  Howe's  ghost.  The  event  was 
looked  for  annually.  Once  there  were  guests  in  the  house  and  no 
mention  made  of  the  ghost  story.  Later  in  the  night  the  guests  heard 
the  tramping  along  the  hall  and  opening  their  bedroom  door  called 
out  "Who's  there?"  but  no  answer.  Their  calls  brought  the  family 
to  the  scene  when  each  discovered  that  the  other  had  heard  the  same 
sounds.  Of  a  sudden  the  anniversary  date  was  recalled.  All  was 
accounted  for  and  quiet  restored. 

Another  interesting  fact  vouched  for  by  Mr.  Bergen  was  that  of 
the  Colonel  Grant  sword  being  found  at  Delaware  Water  Gap  about 

54 


1897-98,  it  having  been  captured  by  a  Mr.  Broadhead  from  a  British 
officer  during  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  1776.  Sally  Bergen  had 
loved  and  married  a  Colonel  John  Grant  of  the  46th  English  Highland 
Regiment,  who  after  the  American  victory  was  given  a  tract  of  land 
at  Nova  Scotia,  where  he  and  the  fair  and  faithful  Sally  removed. 
The  sword  was  a  Scottish  affair,  covered  with  quaint  carving  and 
inscription.  Of  course  Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen  at  once  recognized  it. 
The  father  of  his  host,  Broadhead,  had  captured  it  and  the  junior 
Broadhead  would  not  relinquish  the  relic.  Mr.  Bergen  had  several 
of  the  cannon  balls  that  hit  the  Bergen  house  during  the  Battle  of 
Long  Island,  but  in  the  Fulton  &  Flatbush  Storage  Co.'s  fire  he  lost 
them  as  well  as  other  relics. 

In  telling  of  Bergen  happenings  at  Gowanus  Cove  it  is  realized 
that  Lord  Howe  was  in  New  Utrecht  and  so  crossed  the  ferry  by  the 
Narrows.  There  is  no  mention  of  Denyse  Denyse  having  control  of 
the  ferry  at  this  period.  Denyse  has  been  accounted  for  on  the  side 
of  the  American  cause.  As  the  British  were  in  entire  possession  of 
the  township,  homes,  cattle  and  general  supplies,  it  would  be  natural 
to  understand  that  they  were  also  in  control  of  the  ferry  to  Staten 
Island. 

One  historic  event  was  the  bringing  of  General  Woodhull  from 
the  prison  ship,  first  to  the  Dutch  Church  in  New  Utrecht  and  then 
to  the  de  Sille  home,  where  the  General  died  September  20,  1776,  aged 
54  years.  His  wife  was  with  him  at  the  last,  the  British  in  charge 
of  the  hospital-church  not  wishing  to  have  his  death  charged  upon 
them  as  a  case  of  neglect.  It  was  in  brave  resignation  the  General 
passed  away,  instructing  his  wife,  who  had  been  summoned,  to  dis- 
tribute the  food  she  had  brought  with  her  among  the  starving  Amer- 
ican troops.  This  she  did  as  ordered  by  him.  The  Woodhulls 
had  only  one  child,  a  daughter,  who  married  first  Henry  Nicoll, 
and  married  second,  Gen.  John  Smith.  Much  controversy  arose 
over  the  case  of  General  Woodhull's  treatment  and  death,  all  of 
which  made  the  de  Sille  house  a  historic  landmark  for  years  after 
and  until  it  was  demolished.  The  mistake  of  demolition  of  so  historic 
a  house  has  since  been  realized. 

As  for  the  Dutch  church,  services  were  sadly  interrupted  there 
during  all  these  trying  times  in  the  township.  The  British  used  it 
as  arsenal  and  then  as  hospital  but  church  services  were  afterward 
renewed  and  the  church  revered  all  the  more  for  the  struggle  it  had 
passed  through. 

The  present  church  on  Eighteenth  Avenue,  covered  with  trailing 
vines  of  old  English  ivy,  was  built  from  stones  used  in  the  first 
Dutch  church.  It  has  been  pointed  out  as  the  old  first  Dutch  church 
of  New  Utrecht,  which,  of  course,  is  not  the  case. 

55 


Further  along  on  Eighteenth  Avenue  is  the  Cowenhoven  house 
and  lands,  dating  back  to  a  period  before  1700. 

Records  tell  of  a  letter  written  by  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  August 
23d,  1778,  to  Governor  Clinton,  offering  him,  or  rather  the  State,  a 
sum  of  money  to  give  away  to  prisoners  of  State.  It  was  remarked 
by  Governor  Clinton  that  "as  Cowenhoven  was  said  to  be  a  Loyalist 
the  generous  offer  appeared  to  be  doubtful  of  acceptance."  Whether 
or  no  the  money  was  finally  accepted  is  not  related  in  the  old  records. 

In  a  paper  headed,  "Indictment  of  Tories"  the  name  of  Nicholas 
Cowenhoven  does  not  appear.  Following  is  this  indictment:  "At 
an  examination  of  Henry  Swartout,  Lieut,  of  ist  Regiment,  N.  Y., 
before  the  Grand  Jury  of  Albany  County,  he  stated  he  had  seen 
Jaques  Denice,  (Capt.)  of  Gravesend,  August  I5th,  1778;  Cornelius 
Van  Duyn,  John  Van  Duyn,  Peter  Vanderbilt,  yeoman,  of  New 
Utrecht,  May  25th,  1778.  And  on  Dec.  ist,  1778,  he  had  seen  Isaac, 
Simon  and  Jacques  Cortelyou,  yeomen,  of  New  Utrecht."  (Onder- 
donk's,  page  40.) 

There  was  a  Jaques  Denice  who  was  cornetist  in  Captain  Waldron's 
Troop  of  Dragoons,  Monmouth  County,  N.  J.,  during  1776.  Later 
he  was  lieutenant,  then  captain  and  also  signed  American  cause  docu- 
mentary papers  at  Freehold,  1778. 

Denyse  Denyse,  of  the  Narrows,  was  a  patriot  for  the  American 
cause,  being  chosen  a  delegate  or  deputy  to  the  Provincial  Congress 
at  New  York,  to  resist  British  oppression,  April,  1775. 

There  has  been  a  story  told  among  descendants  of  the  Denyse 
family  that  Rymeicka  Denyse,  a  young  resident  of  New  Utrecht, 
saved  the  American  Army  from  quick  reverse  action  and  defeat,  by 
sounding  the  alarm  that  the  British  were  preparing  to  attack  the 
American  forces.  Rymeicka  was  a  daughter  of  Gerrit  Denyse.  She 
later  married  John  Walker  and  removed  to  Providence,  R.  I.* 

Revolutionary  and  other  war  services  are  mentioned  in  various 
records,  some  of  which  are  included,  but  not  all.  In  book  15  of  the 
Colonial  History  Archives,  the  following  1776  patriots  are  noted: 

Alexander  Cropsey,  Ensign  (page  302). 

Aaron  Cortelyou,  Colonel  of  4th  Regiment  (page  14). 

One  order  reads:  "Ordered,  that  Col.  Clinton,  Col.  McDougal, 
Mr.  Brasher,  Col.  Woodhull,  Col.  Tuston,  Col.  Cortlandt,  Col.  Rens- 


*Note — It  is  believed  she  was  daughter  of  the  Gerrit,  who  died  July,  1801, 
who  was  son  of  Jacques  Denyse  of  the  Narrows.  Whatever  the  line  of  descent, 
Rymiecka  Denys  was  a  very  brave  girl  and  thought  nothing  of  her  own  great 
danger  at  the  time.  There  are  no  existing  documents  to  prove  this  tale  of  1776 
coolness  and  energy  but  it  must  be  true  else  tradition  would  not  so  firmly  express 
itself  in  different  family  branches. 

56 


selaer,  Col.  Blackwel,  Capt.  Platt,  Mr.  Christopher  Yates,  Col.  Cor- 
telyou,  Mr.  Vander  Bilt  and  Major  Williams  be  a  Committee  to  form 
and  determine  the  rank  of  Captains  and  inferior  officers  in  each 
Regiment  and  of  the  Captains  in  the  several  Regiments."  Dated 
June  30th,  1775. 

From  a  calendar  of  historical  manuscripts,  Revolutionary  papers 
by  official  publication,  1868,  O'Callaghan,  the  following  names  are 
noted :  On  muster  roll,  George  Cortelyou,  private  in  Col.  Lasher's 
Regiment,  November  5,  1776  (page  500).  (Col.  Lasher  commanded 
a  New  York  Regiment.) 

Aaron  Cortelyou  on  the  list  of  Deputies  selected  for  the  Colonies 
of  New  York  to  the  Provincial  Congress,  May  26,  1775  (page  86). 

On  pages  18-28-29  are  mentioned  the  names  of  Henry  Cropsy, 
Adam  Cropsie,  Alexander  Cropsie,  Andrew  Cropsie,  Isaac  Cropsie. 

Auert  Van  Pelt  was  also  a  1776  patriot. 

The  Van  Brunt  family  were  represented  on  the  American  side. 
The  pretty  story  of  Adrian  Van  Brunt's  daughter,  Altje,  is  one 
best  told  in  the  personal  reminiscence  of  Mrs.  John  Franklin  Berry, 
of  Brooklyn,  whose  ancestors  were  among  those  earlier  soldiers  of 
the  Colony  of  New  Utrecht.  The  story  of  Altje  Van  Brunt  must  be 
thus  read.  Not  even  the  British  could  make  Altje  forget  her  pink 
sunbonnet,  nor  could  their  unwelcome  presence  in  the  Van  Brunt 
home  cause  fear.  The  father,  Adrian  Van  Brunt,  was  absent  with 
his  regiment.  This  story  of  Altje  goes  down  as  a  bit  of  delightful 
history. 

FIRST  LIBERTY  POLE. 

Following  the  events  of  the  Revolutionary  war,  when  the  British 
were  finally  vanquished  and  the  victorious  American  armies  made 
American  Independence  assured,  the  first  Liberty  Pole  was  erected 
in  New  Utrecht,  during  1783,  to  celebrate  British  evacuation  and 
restoration  of  Dutch  rule  in  the  Colonies.  It  was  an  occasion  for 
great  rejoicing  and  also  festivity  of  an  unusual  character.  There 
was  feasting,  also  games  on  the  meadow.  Everybody  then  joined 
hands  and  danced  around  the  big  Liberty  Pole,  erected  and  dedicated 
to  the  cause  of  Liberty.  Echoes  of  that  grand  celebration  in  the 
township  of  New  Utrecht  are  heard  among  the  present  day  descend- 
ants of  those  first  Dutch  settlers.  The  same  eagle  and  weather  vane 
placed  on  that  first  pole  have  been  placed  on  the  Liberty  Pole  stand- 
ing to  day  in  front  -of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  on  Eighteenth 
Avenue.  The  vane  has  the  word  "Liberty"  on  it  which  can  be  plainly 
read  when  the  vane  points  at  proper  angle  for  the  reading  of  that 

57 


precious  word.  The  new  pole  cost  $500,  being  merely  a  needed 
replacing  of  the  previous  pole,  which  was  in  bad  condition  through 
lapse  of  time.  It  has  been  planned  that  the  expense  of  keeping  the 
pole  as  a  permanent  feature  where  it  now  stands,  will  devolve  upon 
existence  of  the  Liberty  Pole  Association,  which  any  American  citizen 
can  join,  at  very  small  annual  dues. 

Its  purpose  is  to  keep  alive  the  spirit  of  patriotism,  as  exempli- 
fied in  the  erection  of  the  first  Liberty  Pole  in  1783. 

From  Albany,  N.  Y.,  old  time  records,  there  is  not  much  allusion 
to  any  Liberty  Pole  so  that  New  Utrecht  must  have  had  the  honor 
of  erecting  the  first  in  America.  From  those  Albany  sources  of  his- 
toric information  it  can  be  quoted  as  follows:  "The  idea  of  Liberty 
Poles  is  as  old  as  that  of  the  Phrygian  cap.  In  other  words,  it  goes 
back  to  the  days  of  the  Romans  and  the  Greeks.  The  Dutch  erected 
Liberty  Poles  at  the  conclusion  of  the  war  with  Spain,  but  the  poles 
were  not  kept  up  permanently.  There  was  no  occasion  to  erect 
Liberty  Poles  in  America,  except  possibly  in  1648,  in  celebrating  with 
the  mother  country  the  end  of  the  80  years  war  with  Spain.  May 
poles  were  erected  for  festive  occasions  and  the  idea  of  happily  danc- 
ing around  a  May  pole  may  readily  have  suggested  doing  the  same 
thing  around  a  Liberty  Pole." 

From  this  it  can  be  understood  how  truly  joyous  the  Dutch 
colony  of  New  Utrecht  must  have  been  when  they  erected  their  first 
Liberty  Pole  in  the  little  village  that  now  is  part  of  the  big  city  of 
Brooklyn.  In  the  same  true  spirit,  that  Pole  has  been  kept  as  it 
was  in  the  long  ago  days,  with  every  patriotic  event  finding  the  Stars 
and  Stripes  floating  to  the  breeze  from  the  Pole  made  so  historic. 
The  personal  reminiscences  of  Mrs.  Townsend  C.  Van  Pelt  tell  much 
of  the  Pole. 

The  closing  period  of  the  Revolutionary  war  was  one  of  anxious 
time  for  all  concerned  in  American  Independence.  When  the  armies 
of  General  Washington  marched  along  Pearl  Street,  New  York,  in 
all  the  glory  of  their  hard  earned  victory,  the  people  gave  warm 
welcome  indeed.  As  the  Dutch  are  known  to  be  good  fighters  so 
were  they  also  known  to  have  been  good  rejoicers. 

It  was  not  long  after  the  close  of  the  1776  war  that  the  desirability 
of  land  along  the  water  edge  became  apparent  to  those  who  had  been 
further  inland.  One  of  the  events  of  the  latter  part  of  the  1700  period 
was  establishment  of  the  "Bath  House"  at  the  village  of  Bath,  which 
place  immediately  became  a  favorite  resort,  especially  for  convales- 
cents and  those  seeking  the  invigorating  air  by  the  Narrows.  The 
Bath  House  was  erected  in  1794.  While  not  being  altogether  a  sani- 

58 


tarium  it  was  under  the  supervision  of  Dr.  Bailey,  Dr.  Rogers,  Dr. 
Tillary,  Dr.  Bard  and  others,  whose  interest  in  the  enterprise  and 
medical  prominence  at  that  time  contributed  a  certainty  of  repose 
and  complete  rest  for  those  seeking  that  very  thing.  The  building 
was  destroyed  by  fire  in  1802  and  never  rebuilt. 

It  was  the  Hamilton  House  at  Fort  Hamilton  that  later  became 
famed  as  a  resort,  as  did  the  fashionable  hotel  at  Coney  Island, 
established  by  James  Cropsey  and  Cornelius  Woglum.  This  was 
during  the  1800  period,  the  Bath  House  being  the  first  hotel  in  the 
township  during  1700. 

During  the  latter  part  of  1700,  citizens  of  the  township  had  plenty 
to  occupy  their  time  in  restoring  their  properties  to  former  condi- 
tion. Deaths  and  marriages  made  changes,  also  various  land  trans- 
actions, some  of  which  are  recorded  in  this  book  from  original  and 
time-worn  documents,  others  have  been  destroyed  or  lost  and  so  are 
not  available  for  clearing  up  some  family  and  land  intricacies.  Those 
here  printed  are  of  value  in  telling  of  many  of  the  old  time  residents 
of  the  township,  of  their  homes  and  families.  Denyse  Denyse  being 
one  of  the  largest  land  owners  of  the  locality  naturally  figures  largely 
in  nearly  all  documents  found,  so  do  the  Cortelyous,  the  Van  Brunts, 
the  Cowenhovens,  the  Van  Pelts  and  other  of  the  old  families. 

There  are  various  ways  of  spelling  the  names,  according  to  the 
then  existing  conditions  between  English  and  Dutch  languages. 
Those  unable  to  sign  names  in  English  either  made  their  mark  to 
documents  or  wrote  in  such  dreadful  English  that  it  is  difficult  to 
decipher  the  name.  The  drawing  up  of  legal  papers  were,  of  course, 
done  by  those  competent  to  write  good  English.  It  is  due  to  the 
various  ways  of  recording  the  old  Dutch  names  of  the  settlers  and 
their  family  members  that  so  many  different  ways  of  spelling  those 
names  exist  at  the  present  time.  Descendants  had  wide  choice  of  a 
surname.  Many  kept  to  the  original  spelling  of  it.  The  change 
from  Dutch  language  to  English  must  have  been  a  most  difficult  and 
trying  time  to  the  older  people  of  the  township.  That  is  doubtless 
why,  in  several  of  the  personal  reminiscences,  it  is  stated  that  parents 
clung  to  their  Dutch  language  but  insisted  their  children  should  learn 
only  the  English.  A  copy  of  a  Colonial  Primer  tells  the  story  of  those 
early  struggles  for  education  and  how  much  the  church  figured  in 
the  week  day  schooling,  the  catechism  being  considered  especially 
important. 

GENERAL  WOODHULL. 

Much  sentiment  is  attached  to  the  old  de  Sille  house  in  connec- 
tion with  Gen.  Nathaniel  Woodhull.  This  man  who  began  life  as  a 

59 


farmer,  rose  to  a  most  foremost  place  in  the  annals  of  Long  Island 
history  and  that  of  New  Utrecht.  Nathaniel  Woodhull  was  born  at 
Mastic,  L.  I.,  during  1722.  He  became  Colonel  of  the  Third  Regiment, 
N.  Y.,  and  was  at  Montreal  and  Canada's  reduction  in  1760.  Later 
he  was  made  Brigadier  General  of  Military  companies  for  Suffolk 
and  Queens  counties  and  was  shot  and  injured,  near  Jamaica,  L.  I., 
for  refusing  to  obey  the  English  officer's  command  to  repeat  "God 
Save  the  King."  Twice  was  the  command  given,  but  General  Wood- 
hull  replied  each  time,  "God  Save  all  Honest  Men."  There  has  been 
widespread  discussion,  even  argument,  as  to  whether  Capt.  Oliver 
Delancey  was  the  officer  who  shot  and  later  ill-treated  General  Wood- 
hull  or  whether  General  Woodhull  was  otherwise  wounded  when 
Captain,  later  Colonel,  DeLancey  sought  to  shield,  not  hurt  him. 

For  this  dispute  the  historians  have  brought  forth  many  proofs. 
However  the  case  may  be  settled  as  to  the  shooting  of  the  General, 
it  has  been  proved  that  he  was  confined  on  board  the  ships  "Pacific" 
and  "Mentor,"  for  one  week,  during  which  time  he  suffered  great 
agony  and  was  given  a  mattress  for  more  comfort  than  was  allowed 
other  prisoners.  He  was  finally  released  and  conveyed  to  New 
Utrecht,  where  he  was  placed  in  the  British  hospital,  then  in  the 
Reformed  Dutch  Church  on  Kings  Highway.  Seeing  his  grave  con- 
dition and  realizing  the  end  to  be  not  very  distant,  the  General  was 
taken  to  the  de  Sille  house.  His  wife  was  notified.  She  was  able 
to  reach  him  before  he  expired.  This  was  September  20,  or  23,  1776. 
It  has  been  claimed  the  British  were  harsh  even  to  the  end,  but  inas- 
much as  they  allowed  their  distinguished  prisoner  to  be  removed  to 
a  private  homestead,  with  Mrs.  Woodhull  present,  it  can  scarcely  be 
believed  that  General  Woodhull  died  of  cruel  neglect  and  lack  of 
care  at  the  last.  His  wife  was  Ruth,  daughter  of  Nicoll  Floyd.  At 
her  husband's  summons  she  reached  New  Utrecht  and  also  brought 
with  her  a  wagon  filled  with  food  and  various  necessaries  for  distri- 
bution among  the  American  patriots  who  needed  such.  General 
Woodhull's  fine  mind  and  soldierly  instinct  had  bade  her  do  this  and 
she  obeyed.  His  last  words  were,  "Care  for  my  soldiers."  His  death 
created  a  profound  sensation  in  New  Utrecht  at  the  time.  Stories  of 
ill  treatment  from  the  Britishers  were  uppermost.  Capt.  Oliver  De 
Lancey  was  declared  villainous.  The  De  Lancey  family  of  New  York 
have  since  endeavored  to  correct  their  ancestral  villainy  in  this 
respect,  hence  the  argument  among  historians  as  to  the  General's 
treatment  at  De  Lancey's  hands. 

General  Woodhull  was  buried  at  Mastic,  L.  I.  He  left  one  child, 
a  daughter.  She  married,  first,  Henry  Nicoll ;  married  second,  Gen. 
John  Smith. 

60 


February  5-23,  1781.  Daniel  Jones  of  the  town  of  New  Utrecht, 
having  bought  a  farm  or  plantation  at  a  place  commonly  called  Yellow 
Hook,  as  appeared  by  a  certain  release  from  Denyse  Denyse  and 
wife  Teuntje,  said  lease  bearing  date  23d  day  of  February,  and  the 
release  the  24th  day  of  February,  1781.  It  gives  Denyse  Denyse  and 
his  heirs  the  "Shoar  and  water  privilege  from  the  Westmost  corner 
of  the  land  of  Jaques  Barkeloo,  four  chains  from  said  corner,  by 
the  River,  before  the  land  of  said  Daniel  Jones,  for  the  time  of  ten 
months  yearly  and  every  year,  from  the  i6th  day  of  May,  to  the  Hth 
day  of  March.  Privilege  for  fishing  with  fishing  nets  or  Seting  of 
Hoops.  Said  Daniel  Jones  or  his  heirs  shall  make  no  Mollestation  or 
do  any  Damage  to  said  Denyse  Denyse  or  his  heirs  on  the  said  four 
chains  from  the  land  of  Jaques  Barkeloo." 

Signed  by  DANIEL  JONES. 

Witnesses : 

ABRAHAM  DURYEE  and 

JOHANNIS   E.  LOTT. 

1782— DENYSE  DENYSE  AND  JOHN  RAPALJE. 

On  September  12,  1782,  a  land  transaction  recorded  between 
Denyse  Denyse,  Teuntje  his  wife  and  John  Rapalje  of  Brooklyn. 
They  sold  to  Rapalje  all  those  parcels  of  land  situated  in  New 
Utrecht.  One  parcel — Northeast  corner  of  the  garden  of  Maria 
Lott,  deceased,  widow  of  Joris  Lott,  deceased,  by  the  road  from 
Flatbush  to  New  Utrecht.  Thence  to  the  Indian  Pond  and  east  to 
the  land  late  of  Altje  Stilwell,  deceased,  of  Nicholas  Stilwell,  north 
and  east  by  Garret  Kouwenhoven's  land,  thence  south. 

Another  of  said  tracts  in  New  Utrecht,  bounded  by  southwest 
corner  woodland  lot  of  Tryntie,  wife  of  John  Rapalje,  running  thence 
north  and  west  to  dividing  line  of  Rutgart  Van  Brunt's  woodland. 
Another  tract  beginning  by  woodland  of  Joris  Lott,  deceased,  and 
southwestern  corner  of  woodland  of  Hendrick  Johnson  and  by  the 
land  of  Jan  Ver  Kerk,  deceased. 

Another  tract,  part  of  a  lot  called  No.  14,  in  New  Utrecht,  bounded 
by  woodland  of  Altje  Stilwell,  deceased,  and  a  certain  sassafras  marked 
stake  standing  at  southeastern  corner  of  said  woodland,  thence  to 
woodland  of  Casper  Crapser,  thence  south,  containing  8  1-3  acres 
and  there  was  also  a  parcel  of  salt  meadow  at  Flatlands,  at  a  place 
called  Urisen  Hook.  Also  a  piece  of  marshland  in  New  Utrecht 
meadow  of  Flatlands  township,  bounded  westerly  by  the  meadow  of 
Evert  Suydam,  southerly  by  a  certain  ditch  on  the  land  of  Peter 
Wyckof,  easterly  by  the  meadow  of  Jacques  Denyse  and  northerly  by 

61 


a  ditch  on  the  woodland  of  Jan  Ditmars,  deceased.    Signed  by  Denyse 
Denyse  and  Teuntje  Denyse,  September  12,  1782. 

1782— FIRST    NEWSPAPER. 

A  first  newspaper  was  published  in  Brooklyn,  June  8,  1782, 
and  called  Brooklyn  Hall  Super  Extra  Gazette.  It  told  that  "Baron 
deWalzogen,  Commander  of  Hessian  and  Brunswicke  troops,  now  at 
Brooklyn  Camp,  had  received  an  address  from  the  inhabitants  of 
New  Utrecht,  thanking  him  for  the  vigilant  care,  good  order  and  disci- 
pline prevailing  among  the  officers  and  soldiers  under  his  command 
at  the  Narrows."  (Copy  of  document  at  Naval  Lyceum,  U.  S.  Navy, 
Bklyn.,  page  99,  Stiles  His.) 

September  13,  1782.  A  very  important,  elaborate  looking  docu- 
ment, written  in  three  large  pages  of  beautiful  script,  duly  sealed  and 
fastened  with  pale  blue  ribbon  to  signify  care  and  nicety,  is  an  old 
document  relating  to  an  indenture  made  between  Denyse  Denyse 
and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  on  one  part  and  John  Rapalje,  Jr.,  of  Brooklyn, 
on  the  second  part.  It  must  have  taken  much  time  and  extreme  care 
to  write  this  old  paper,  now  cracked  and  yellow  with  age  but  clearly 
decipherable  because  of  the  beautiful  penmanship. 

This  document  tells  that  "in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  ten  shillings  paid  by 
said  John  Rapalje,  Jr.,  Denyse  Denyse  and  wife  Teuntje  sold  and  conveyed  all 
those  certain  parcels  of  land  situated  in  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht,  bounded  by 
land  late  of  Maria  Lott,  thence  to  the  Indian  Pond,  thence  North  and  East  by  di- 
vision line  of  the  Town  of  Gravesend  and  by  land  late  of  James  Hubbard  so  as  the 
fence  now  stands  to  rear  of  land  of  Gerrit  Kouwenhoven,  thence  North,  etc.,  etc., 
containing  113  acres  of  land." 

Another  parcel  of  land  was  described  "beginning  at  the  division  line  of  South- 
westernmost  corner  of  the  woodland  of  Tryntje,  wife  of  John  Rapalje,  running 
thence  North  58  degrees,  West  37  chains,  by  said  woodland  to  division  line  between 
and  the  woodland  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  South  40  degrees,  West  2  chains,  etc., 
etc.,  containing  8^4  acres  of  land." 

Another  parcel :  "Bounded  by  woodland  late  of  Joris  Lott,  deceased,  at  South- 
western corner  of  woodland  late  of  Hendrick  Johnson,  deceased,  running  thence 
North  to  woodland  of  late  Jan  Van  Kerk,  deceased,  containing  17  acres  and  one- 
half." 

Another  parcel :  "Being  part  of  Lot  No.  14,  bounded  as  beginning  at  wood- 
land of  the  late  Altje  Stilwell,  deceased,  by  a  certain  sassafras  marked  stake  stand- 
ing at  Southeasternmost  corner  of  said  woodland,  running  thence  North  60  de- 
grees, West  24  chains,  to  division  line,  thence  South  42  degrees,  West  3  chains  by 
said  division  line  to  woodland  of  Casper  Crapser,  thence  South  58  degrees,  etc., 
etc.,  containing  8^  acres  of  land." 

Also  some  salt  meadow  land  "lying  in  the  Town  of  Flatlands  at  a  place  called 
Urisen  Hoek,  bounded  Westerly  by  meadow  of  William  Kouwenhoven,  Southerly 
by  a  creek,  Easterly  by  a  creek  or  Ditch  between  Verkens  Hoek  and  Urisen  Hoek" 
and  another  piece  of  salt  meadow  "by  Evert  Suydam,  Southerly  by  a  Ditch  or  land 

62 


of  Peter  Wyckoff,  Easterly  by  land  of  Jaques  Denyse  and  Northerly  by  a  certain 
Ditch  or  woodland  of  Jan  Ditmars,  deceased," — also  a  parcel  of  salt  meadow 
ground  "in  the  Town  of  Flatlands,  bounded  Westerly  by  meadow  of  the  late 
Andries  Emans,  deceased,  Southwesterly  by  the  Bay,  thence  Southerly  and  Easterly 
by  a  certain  Creek,  etc.,  etc." — all  said  tracts  and  parcels  assigned  to  said  John 
Rapalje,  Jr.,  of  Brooklyn.  There  appears  to  be  a  long  detailed  order  that  the  l/$ 
of  said  premises  shall  be  for  the  use  of  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  or  for  either 
of  them  who  shall  survive  the  other,  or  at  the  death  of  both  to  then  go  to  the 
mentioned  Rutgert  Denyse,  son  of  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  and  to  his  heirs, 
subject  to  the  trust  mentioned;  for  the  children  of  Jacques  Denyse,  son  of  Denyse 
Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  one  other  full  and  equal  third  right  of  all  the  said 
premises ;  also  one  third  full  right  to  Rymeicka  Stewart,  daughter  of  the  said 
Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  and  to  the  heirs  of  said  Rymeicka,  subject 
to  the  trust  herein  mentioned,  for  raising  portions  for  the  children  of  the  said 
Jacques  Denyse;  also  the  remaining  l/3  equal  part  to  the  use  of  Jane  Denyse,  daugh- 
ter of  said  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  and  to  her  heirs,  subject  to  the 
trust  mentioned.  Signed  by  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje. 

The  document  elaborately  states  that  John  Rapalje  should  hold  the  premises 
in  trust  for  the  use  of  said  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  and  so  their 
children  in  case  the  parents  should  die  first.  It  mentions  the  premises  as  being 
divided  into  three  equal  parts,  yet  mentions  four  children :  Rutgert,  Jacques  chil- 
dren, Rymeicke  and  Jane.  How  four  can  each  receive  a  third  of  the  trust  share 
is  not  quite  clear  to  the  copyist  of  this  old  document,  yet  that  is  exactly  what  is 
stated. 

On  another  side  of  these  pages  is  written :  "Received  on  the  13  day  of  May, 
in  the  year  of  our  Lord,  one  thousand  eight  hundred  and  seven,  of  Mr.  John 
Rapalje,  the  sum  of  $80075  in  full  satisfaction  of  the  trust  reposed  in  him 
for  us,  in  the  within  special  conveyance,  in  trust  made  to  him,  the  said  John 
Rapalje,  by  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  late  of  the  Narrows  in  the 
Township  of  New  Utrecht  and  County  of  Kings,  now  deceased,  and  bearing  date  the 
I3th  day  of  September  in  the  year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  seven  hundred  and 
eighty-two. 

Witness,   Thomas  D.   Smith. 

Signed  by 

DENYSE  D.   DENYSE, 
JOHN  DENYSE, 
HENRY  DENYSE, 
WILLIAM  DENYSE, 
ISAAC  DENYSE, 
TUNIS  DENYSE, 
JANE  BARRE. 

Gary  Ludlow  was  Master  in  Chancery  for  the  Province  of  New 
York.  On  September  13,  1782,  before  him  personally  appeared  Denyse 
Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  to  bear  witness  to  the  deed  of  con- 
veyance and  trust  to  John  Rapalje,  Jr.,  of  Brooklyn.  This  old  deed 
is  recorded  in  Kings  County  Clerk's  office,  Liber  191  of  Conveyances, 
page  448,  March  5,  1849,  at  25  minutes  past  10  A.  M.  Examined  by 
John  Hicks,  Clerk. 

63 


The  original  deed  is  held  by  a  descendant  of  the  Denyse  family, 
now  residing  on  Eighteenth  Avenue.  It  proves  that  Denyse  Denyse 
died  prior  to  May  13,  1807. 

April  28,  1785,  Messrs.  Simon,  Jacques  and  Isaac  Cortelyou  sent 
600  prime  shad  as  a  donation  to  the  New  York  Almshouse.  Their 
united  business  was  in  their  fisheries  by  the  Narrows. 

October  6,  1788,  Charles  Berry  forged  the  name  of  Cortelyou. 
After  being  convicted  of  the  crime,  he  escaped  from  jail  at  Kings 
County,  being  not  captured. 

April  16,  1791,  a  draft  of  Shad  taken  from  the  Narrows  water 
were  14,000  fish  and  were  valued  at  upwards  of  £200. 

August  13,  1793.  Isaac  Cortelyou  had  a  "house  of  four  rooms 
to  let,  near  to  bathing  and  fronting  the  Bay,  below  Denys's." 

May  2,  1799.    Transaction  of  land  matters  between  James  Boyce, 
Sally,  his  wife,  of  Gravesend  and  Denice  Denice  of  New  Utrecht. 
Document  signed  JAMES  BOYCE  (his  mark  X) 
SALLY  BOYCE,  X 
Witnesses : 

SAMUEL  HUBBARD, 

RICHARD  STILWELL. 


Tennis  O.  Bergen 


Paul  A.  Oliver 


1800  -PERIOD. 

YELLOW  FEVER.  CIVIL  WAR. 

PROGRESS  OF  THE  VILLAGES. 
PRESENT    DAY    REMINISCENCES. 

WITH  the  close  of  the  1776  war  a  new  century  was  at  hand  for 
the  settlement  of  New  Utrecht.  The  Seventeenth  Century 
witnessed  much  for  the  old  Dutch  township,  but  the  Eighteenth 
Century  closed  with  a  still  more  remarkable  list  of  happenings. 
Scattered  homesteads  and  villages  became  more  united  by  reason  of 
the  march  of  progress.  Many  inhabitants  of  the  1700  period  were 
left  in  the  township.  New  ones  came.  There  was  a  yellow  fever 
epidemic;  the  building  of  the  grim  stone  fort  by  the  Narrows;  the 
Civil  war  and  its  attending  excitement;  slavery  question  between 
North  and  South ;  wonderful  inventions  on  land  and  on  sea.  During 
changes  from  olden  time  ways  to  new,  it  was  the  late  Hon.  Tunis 
G.  Bergen,  of  Bay  Ridge,  who  gathered  township  records  of  earlier 
days,  moulding  them  into  historic  data.  Except  for  him  there  would 
now  be  many  missing  links  for  those  delving  into  the  past  of  Brook- 
lyn's Thirtieth  Ward. 

Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  who  established  a  home  at  Bay  Ridge, 
1845-50,  was  a  writer  and  historian  of  note.  When  at  Holland  one 
season,  he  obtained  and  translated  the  valuable  Dunker  and  Sluyter 
papers  of  1679  data. 

The  township  of  New  Utrecht  grew  rapidly  after  the  close  of 
the  Civil  war.  Trolley,  then  steam  cars  and  finally  electricity  naturally 
developed  the  former  farmlands  into  city  streets  and  avenues.  Recital 
of  all  this  follows  in  variously  related  reminiscences  of  a  personal 
nature.  Church  and  town  records  were  better  kept  and  less  difficult 
of  translation. 

It  will  be  necessary  to  gradually  approach  such  period,  turning 
backward  to  the  documents  that  have  to  deal  with  the  early  1800 
period. 

SIMON  CORTELYOU  TO  DENYSE  DENYSE. 

May,  1801.  "This  Indenture  made  between  Simon  Cortelyou  of 
the  Town  of  New  Utrecht  and  Denyse  Denyse  of  the  same  place, 
witnesseth  that  said  Simon,  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of  5  pounds 
per  acre,  to  him  paid  in  hand  by  said  Denyse  Denyse,  the  receipt 
whereof  he  doth  acknowledge  himself  to  be  content,  hath  bargained, 
sold  and  conveyed  unto  said  Denyse  Denyse,  his  heirs,  all  that  parcel 

5  65 


of  land  lying  in  Middletown,  County  of  Monmouth,  State  of  New 
Jersey,  being  part  of  a  farm  bought  from  William  Hobrow,  deceased, 
containing  23  acres  &  ^2,  now  belonging  to  Timothy  T.  Cortelyou — 
on  a  corner,  South  58  degrees,  East  from  a  Wight  oak  tree  standing 
on  Matawas  Road,  it  being  the  Northwesterly  corner  of  the  planta- 
tion of  William  Hobrow,  deceased,  thence  South,  thence  East  to  the 
land  of  William  Cropsy,  thence  along  said  land  South  25  degrees,  to 
the  land  of  Simon  Cortelyou,  thence  along  said  land  Northwest  18 
chains  to  the  land  of  Timothy  T.  Cortelyou,  containing  23  acres  &  l/2, 
Strict  Measure.  And  he,  the  said  Simon  Cortelyou  hath  full  power  to 
grant  the  same,  as  the  same  was  grant  to  him  by  from  Jedidian  Swan 
and  Jonathan  W.  Osbourn,  with  the  Act  of  the  Legislature  of  the 
State  of  New  Jersey,  to  Enable  said  Swan  and  Osbourn,  Adminis- 
trators of  William  Hobrow,  deceased,  to  convey  the  same  to  said 
Simon  Cortelyou."  Signed  by  Simon  Cortelyou,  who  added  a  post- 
script to  the  document,  thus 

"And  whereas  I  have  Reserved  a  Road  down  to  the  Landing 
across  the  farm  of  William  Cropsy  for  the  purpose  of  carting  wood 
and  Laying  it  on  the  Landing  to  take  off  with  boats  to  Long  Island 
— I  therefore  give  unto  Denyse  Denyse,  his  heirs,  or  assigns  forever, 
the  same  right  to  cart  wood  from  the  above  23  Acres  of  Woodland, 
formerly  of  William  Hobrow's." 

This  document  was  witnessed  by 
PETER  T.  CORTELYOU, 
AURT  VAN  PELT. 

Date  May  i,  1801. 

LAST  WILL  AND  TESTAMENT  OF  DENYSE  DENYSE. 
August  22,  1800— October  23,  1806. 

In  the  Name  of  God,  Amen.  The  twenty-second  day  of  August  in  the  year 
of  our  Lord  one  thousand  eight  hundred  I,  Denyse  Denyse  of  the  Narrows  in  the 
Town  of  New  Utricht  in  Kings  County  State  of  New  York,  Yeoman,  being  at 
present  very  well  &  in  good  health  &  perfect  of  mind  memory  &  understanding,  but 
considering  the  uncertainty  of  this  transitory  life,  I  Do  make,  publish  and  declare 
this  my  last  Will  &  Testament  in  manner  and  form  following  that  is  to  say,  Firstly 
I  recommend  my  Soul  into  the  hands  of  God  who  gave  it  &  my  body  I  recommend 
it  to  the  earth  to  be  buried  in  a  Christian  like  &  decent  manner  at  the  discretion  of 
my  Executors  herein  after  named,  nothing  doubting  but  at  the  general  resurrection 
I  shall  receive  the  same  again  by  the  mighty  power  of  God  &  as  for  such  worldlj 
estate  wherewith  it  hath  pleased  God  to  bless  me  with  in  this  life,  I  give  devise  & 
dispose  of  the  same  in  manner  &  form  following  (Viz) 

Firstly:  It  is  my  Will  &  order  that  all  my  just  and  lawful  debts  be  paid,  &  my 
funeral  charges  be  payed  out  of  my  personal  estate,  by  my  Executors  herein  after 
named,  before  any  devision  is  made  of  my  estate. 

66 


Secondly :  It  is  my  Will  &  order  that  my  Executors  herein  after  named  shall 
pay  unto  my  loving  Wife  Elizabeth,  the  sum  of  Fifty  Pounds  current  money  of  the 
State  of  New  York  yearly  &  every  year  for  and  during  the  time  she  shall  remain 
my  widow  to  be  paid  to  her  the  one  equal  part  thereof  at  the  end  of  every  six 
months  in  two  equal  payments.  It  is  also  my  Will  &  order  that  my  said  wife  Eliza- 
beth shall  have  the  choice  of  one  of  the  rooms  in  this  my  dwelling  house  to  live 
in  during  the  time  she  shall  remain  my  Widow  &  as  much  furniture  as  to  furnish 
the  said  room,  including  a  Bed,  bedstead  &  the  furniture  thereto  belonging,  &  that 
my  said  Wife  Elizabeth  shall  have  the  choice  of  one  of  my  negro  Wenches  to  wait 
on  her  &  that  my  Executors  see  that  my  said  Wife  Elizabeth  shall  have  her  fire 
wood  brought  and  cut,  by  the  door,  as  much  as  she  shall  have  need  for  during  the 
time  aforesaid  &  that  my  said  Wife  shall  be  at  liberty  to  go  in  the  garden  or  Orchard 
&  take  of  the  fruit  thereof,  as  she  did  in  my  life  time,  it  being  in  lieu  &  stead  of  her 
dower  in  my  estate. 

Thirdly:  I  give  devise  &  bequeath  unto  my  two  daughters,  Ryme  &  Jane  and 
to  my  grandchildren  Namely,  Denyse  Denyse,  Gerrit  Denyse,  John  Denyse,  William 
Denyse,  Jane  the  Wife  of  Daniel  Barre,  Hendrick  Denyse  &  Tunis  Denyse, 
children  of  my  late  son  Jaques  Denyse  deceased,  all  my  real  and  personal  estate 
of  what  sort  or  denomination  the  same  be  in  manner  &  form  following:  that 
is  to  say,  the  one  third  to  my  daughter  Jane,  &  the  one  third  to  my  said 
daughter  Ryme,  and  the  one  third  to  the  above  named  children  of  my  said  son 
Jaques  Denyse  deceased  &  to  each  of  their  heirs  &  assigns  forever,  the  respective 
legacies  to  be  retained  in  the  hands  of  my  Executors  until  the  legatees  arrive  at  the 
age  of  twenty-one  years. 

Fourthly :  It  is  my  Will  &  order  if  any  of  the  above  named  children  or  grand- 
children should  happen  to  die  before  they  have  reed  their  share  or  portion  of  my 
estate  the  share  or  portion  of  any  so  dying  shall  fall  on  the  survivors  or  survivor  of 
them  or  to  their  heirs  &  assigns. 

Lastly :  I  do  hereby  nominate  &  appoint  my  said  two  daughters  Ryme  &  Jane, 
Executrix  and  my  two  grandsons  namely  Denyse  Denyse  &  Gerrit  Denyse,  Execu- 
tors of  this  my  last  Will  &  Testament,  giving  &  granting  unto  them  or  the  major 
part  of  them  or  the  Survivors  or  Survivor  of  them  full  power  to  see  that  the  same 
be  duly  &  truly  performed  according  to  the  true  intent  &  meaning  hereof  &  do  here- 
by revoke  &  disannul  all  former  &  other  Wills  &  bequests.  In  Witness  whereof  I 
the  said  Denyse  Denyse  have  hereunto  set  my  hand  &  seal  the  day  &  year  first  above 
written. 

DENYSE  DENYSE.     [L.  S.] 

Oct.  23,  1806,  personally  appeared  before  me,  William  Livingston,  Surrogate, 
George  A.  Duryee  &  John  Rapalje  jun.,  of  the  Narrows  in  the  Town  of  New 
Utricht,  and  being  duly  sworn  on  their  Oaths  declared  they  did  see  Denyse  Denyse 
sign  &  seal  the  preceding  Instrument  purporting  to  be  the  last  Will  of  the  said 
Denyse  Denyse. 

I  Do  hereby  certify  the  foregoing  to  be  a  true  copy  from  the  original  Will  of 
Denyse  Denyse  dec'd  &  of  the  certificate  of  the  proof  thereof  recorded  in  my  office. 

Proved,  Oct.  23d,  1806. 

WM.  LIVINGSTON, 
Surrogate,   Kings  Co. 

67 


HEIRS    OF   DENYSE    DENYSE    (SETTLEMENT    OF    LAND 

MATTERS). 

Dec.  1806.  Two  certain  parcels  of  land  were  conveyed  by  Rymie  Stewart  and 
Jane  Smith  to  the  heirs  of  Jaques  Denyse  (surveyed  by  Jeremiah  Lott,  Nov.  2Oth, 
1806.  This  land  was  "by  that  of  Altie  Stilwell,  deceased,  Jacob  Moors,  Isaac  Cor- 
telyou,  Jaques  Cortelyou,  to  the  Bay,  with  all  Barnes,  buildings  and  Improvements, 
etc.,  situated  at  the  Yellow  Hook  in  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht,  containing 
33  acres." 

(Two  parcels  of  land  conveyed  by  Rime  Stewart  and  the  heirs  of  Jaques 
Denyse  to  Jane  Smith.) 

Dec.  31,  1806.  This  land  was  by  Albert  Van  Brunt's  to  the  Bay,  containing  60 
acres  exclusive  of  a  Road,  2  rods  wide,  which  Road  is  intended  to  be  laid  along  the 
Northwesterly  side  of  the  land  to  be  conveyed  to  the  heirs  of  Jaques  Denyse — also 
another  parcel  of  land  at  Yellow  Hook,  by  the  land  of  Isaac  Denyse,  to  land  of 
heirs  of  late  Andrew  Cropsy,  to  land  of  Jaques  Van  Brunt,  containing  48  acres. 

A  deed  drawn  between  Jane  Smith  &  others  to  Rime  Stewart,  Dec.  31,  1806, 
relates  to  final  settlement  of  estate  matters  bet.  Jane  Smith,  widow,  and  heirs  of 
Jaques  Denyse,  deceased.  Land  claims  were  renounced  by  the  heirs  of  Jaques,  the 
land  described  as  being  by  that  of  John  Bennet,  by  land  of  Harmonus  Barkaloo, 
deceased,  to  land  of  Albert  Van  Brunt,  containing  58  acres.  The  second  deed,  bet. 
Rime  Stewart  &  others  to  Jane  Smith,  date  Dec.  31,  1806  states  that  "whereas 
Denyse  Denyse  of  New  Utrecht  had  considerable  real  estate  in  lifetime  and  at  the 
time  of  his  death  did  descend  to  Rime  Stewart,  the  children  of  Jaques  Denyse,  de- 
ceased, and  to  Jane  Smith,  said  Rime  Stewart  &  Jane  Smith  conveyed  some  of 
their  land  to  the  children  of  Jaques,  have  released  parties,  etc.,  etc."  All  the  heirs 
of  Jaques  signed  the  release  document,  (monstrous  &  elaborate  pages  of  script). 
Thus  Rime  Stewart  became  sole  owner.  This  accounts  for  the  fact  that  the  chil- 
dren of  Jaques  Denyse  had  no  further  voice  in  land  matters  connected  with  their 
Grandfather's  estate.  Following  are  the  children's  names,  as  signed  to  the  docu- 
ment: 

I — Denyse  D.  Denyse — Polly,  his  wife. 

2 — John  Denyse — Sarah,  his  wife. 

3 — William  Denyse — Maria,  his  wife. 

4 — Isaac  Denyse — Magdalene,  his  wife. 

5 — Henry  Denyse — Elizabeth,  his  wife. 

6 — Tunis  Denyse — Sarah,  his  wife. 

7 — Jane  Denyse — Daniel  Barre,  her  husband. 

All  children  of  Jaques  Denyse,  deceased,  of  the  Narrows. 

Witnesses  to  this  document  were :  Simon  Cortelyou,  John  Rapalje.  Dec.  31, 
1806. 

1807.  Indenture  June  10,  1807,  between  Jane  Smith  and  Thomas 
Denyse  Smith,  of  New  Utrecht,  "as  well  for  the  natural  love  and 
affection  which  she  beareth  to  her  son  and  for  consideration  of  the  sum 
of  5  shillings,  said  Jane  Smith  doth  bargain  &  grant  to  said  Thomas 
Denyse  Smith  that  parcel  of  land  in  New  Utrecht,  by  lot  of  Joris 
Lott,  deceased,  by  woods  of  Hendrick  Johnson,  deceased,  to  woods 
late  of  Jan  Vankerk,  deceased,  containing  17  acres."  Witnesses, 
Elizabeth  Denyse  &  John  Rapalje. 

68 


RIME  STEWART  (NEE  RYMEICKA  DENYSE). 

1812-13.  Business  transactions  of  interest  are  those  between 
Rime  Stewart  and  Jane  Smith,  of  New  Utrecht,  bonded  to  Ida  Stilwell, 
of  Gravesend  for  eleven  hundred  and  fifty  pounds.  April  23,  1812. 

Rime  Stewart  and  Jane  Smith  bonded  for  sum  of  $2,000  to 
Timothy  Cortelyou,  of  New  Utrecht,  May  12,  1812.  Witnesses,  Eliza- 
beth Denyse,  John  Rapalje. 

(Timothy  Cortelyou  afterward  sold  this  bond  to  Daniel  Rapalje, 
for  sum  of  $1,070,  May  n,  1825.) 

Rime  Stewart,  widow  of  James  Stewart,  bonded  for  sum  of 
$3,200  to  Daniel  McCormick,  of  New  York,  October  12,  1813. 

Rime  Stewart  of  New  Utrecht,  signed  for  sum  of  $6,000  from 
Nathan  Rogers  of  New  York,  December  15,  1824.  During  1830  the 
last  interest  payment  was  made  by  Mrs.  Stewart.  In  1834  Dr.  John 
Carpenter  paid  it,  proving  Mrs.  Stewart's  death  between  those  dates. 
As  this  good  woman  was  a  most  interesting  character  in  New  Utrecht, 
as  well  as  a  large  property  owner,  following  her  father's  death,  a 
brief  sketch  of  her  is  given,  with  honors  due. 

Rime  Denyse,  wife  of  James  Stewart,  was  born  1794;  died  January 
25,  1832.  No  records  tell  of  her  girlhood,  but  that  she  was  of  gifted 
and  Christian  character  has  been  proved  by  town  records.  Her  cour- 
age and  generosity  were  often  taxed.  Her  father,  Denyse  Denyse, 
left  great  and  pressing  responsibilities  upon  her  shoulders.  He  died 
September  25,  1806,  after  which  date  the  name  of  Rime  Stewart 
occurs  frequently  in  various  land  and  business  matters  in  New 
Utrecht.  It  has  been  told  of  her  when  Simon  Cortelyou  refused  to 
allow  his  daughter  Jane  to  see  her  young  husband  (a  Hessian  officer, 
whom  Simon  Cortelyou  scorned)  and  that  lover  and  husband  shot 
himself  on  the  bluff  overlooking  the  Narrows,  it  was  Mrs.  Stewart 
who  had  the  Hessian  officer  buried  with  full  military  honors  upon 
her  own  farmland  near  by.  Jane  Cortelyou,  or  in  reality  Jane  Conrad, 
had  a  warm  sympathizer  in  Rime  Stewart.  This  fact,  never  before 
told  in  history  must  go  down  as  data  of  two  women's  hearts.  Mrs. 
Merwin  Rushmore,  of  477  Washington  Avenue,  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  has 
Keen  the  informant,  she  being  a  Cortelyou,  possessing  documents  of 
this  romance  by  the  Narrows.  While  never  having  been  recorded  as 
a  public  character  yet  Mrs.  Stewart's  work  in  New  Utrecht  was  always 
for  the  welfare  of  her  village.  Following  her  father's  death  she  made 
a  will,  brief  and  to  the  point,  as  were  her  own  deeds  in  life.  "Con- 
sidering the  uncertainty  of  life,  I  do  make  my  last  will  &  testament. 
This  gives  to  my  sister  Jane  Smith,  during  her  natural  life,  and  at 
her  death  to  her  children  by  Hugh  Smith,  viz.,  Thomas  D.,  Jane,  Margaret, 

69 


Hugh  and  their  heirs — all  share  in  the  farm,  fishery  and  other  appur- 
tenances, situated  and  lying  at  the  Narrows.  Also  the  farm  and 
fishery  situated  at  the  Yellow  Hook,  inherited  from  my  father,  Denyse 
Denyse,  also  the  lot  of  ground  in  New  York."  Signed,  Rimerick 
Stewart.  October  29,  1806.  Witnesses,  Diana  Rapalje,  John  Rapalje, 
Wright  Post. 

Last  will  and  testament  of  John  Rapalje: 

He  was  a  resident  of  Kings  County,  then  New  York.  His 
will  was  made  in  favor  of  his  beloved  niece,  Catherine,  wife  of  George 
Weltden,  late  of  Upper  Phillinore,  P.  I.,  London,  England.  The 
document  leaves  her  all  except  the  bonds,  deeds,  notes  and  deduct- 
ments  relating  to  the  Trust  fund  of  Denyse  Denyse  of  New  Utrecht 
and  of  Mrs.  Rime  Stewart,  widow  of  James  Stewart  and  Mrs.  Jane 
Smith,  widow  of  Hugh  Smith,  the  daughters  of  Mr.  Denyse  Denyse  and 
thereby  cancelled  all  claims  and  demands  had  at  the  time  of  his 
death.  Signed  by  John  Rapalje,  April  15,  1819  (will  probated  June 
2,  1819). 

1802-1820.  Power  of  Attorney  was  asked  by  John  Lawrence 
Lutwyche  and  his  sister,  Catherine,  January  23,  1802,  to  obtain  pos- 
session of  New  Utrecht  land,  the  estate  of  their  grandmother, 
Catherine  Rapalje,  formerly  Catherine  Van  Brunt,  deceased.  Mr. 
John  Rapalje  was  addressed,  1802,  but  in  1820  the  matter  was  resumed. 
No  settlement  is  mentioned.  John  Lutwyche  and  his  sister  were 
residents  of  Kensington,  Middlesex  County,  England.  They  were 
sole  children  of  Jane  Lutwyche,  deceased  (Mrs.  Edward  Goldstone 
Lutwyche).  She  was  called  Jane  Rapalje,  being  one  of  two  children 
of  Catherine,  wife  of  John  Rapalje,  which  said  Catherine  was  formerly 
Catherine  Van  Brunt  of  New  Utrecht.  It  is  not  stated  how  the  suit 
ended. 

Agreement  between  James  D.  Denyse,  Jane  Smith  and  Rime 
Stewart  (no  date).  James  D.  Denyse  was  to  take  Rime  Stewart's 
farm  as  it  stood.  "He  shall  also  have  exclusive  rights  to  the  Fishery 
in  front  of  said  farm  and  shall  pay  ]/2  proceeds  to  Rime  Stewart  & 
Jane  Smith,  who  shall  furnish  y2  the  flax  for  making  twine  and  allow 
YI  the  stakes  to  be  cut  in  their  woods,  but  all  other  expense  be  born 
by  James  D.  Denyse.  He  shall  leave  all  in  good  repair  and  faithfully 
and  carefully  gather  and  save  all  the  seaweed  that  comes  on  the 
Beach  and  appropriate  it.  James  D.  Denyse  shall  also  ride  all  the 
wood  for  Rime  Stewart  &  Jane  Smith;  to  take  their  grain  to  and 
fetch  it  from  the  Mill;  to  take  them  to  church  and  at  all  reasonable 
and  convenient  times  allow  them  a  horse  to  go  to  Brooklyn." 

The  same  farm  was  mentioned  as  having  been  leased  to  Peter 
Duryea,  who  was  to  occupy  it.  (Documents  torn,  no  date.) 

70 


FOOD  PRICES  IN  1817. 

1817.  At  this  time  it  is  worthy  of  note  that  flour  sold  for  $15 
a  barrel,  being  higher  priced  during  1819,  owing  to  the  fields  on  Long 
Island  having  suffered  continued  drought.  In  1819  a  bill  rendered  a 
customer  by  James  C.  Church,  of  the  Narrows,  tells  the  following 
prices :  2  Ibs.  candles  at  3  Sh. ;  4  Ibs.  butter  at  6  Sh. ;  7  Ibs.  rice  at 
3  Sh.  6  p. ;  i  Ib.  Starch  at  i  Sh.  6  p. 

1821.  It  was  recorded  that  on  April  24,  1821,  William  Cropsey, 
of  New  Utrecht,  was  appointed  Ensign  of  Light  Infantry,  64th  Regi- 
ment, commission  signed  by  Gov.  Dewitt  Clinton.  (He  was  son  of 
William  and  Jane  Denyse.) 

1834.  Description  of  a  property  made  over  to  James  C.  Church 
tells  of  a  parcel  of  land  in  New  Utrecht — a  partition  map  of  the  estate 
of  Isaac  Cortelyou,  deceased,  described  in  a  conveyance  from  James 
Turnbull  to  James  C.  Church.  March  i,  1834.  Recorded  Kings 
County  Clerk's  office,  Liber  40,  page  19,  March  6,  1834  (conveyances). 

1837.  A  mortgage  transaction  between  Jacob  S.  Smith,  of  Fort 
Hamilton,  and  Jane  his  wife,  mentions  that  Dr.  John  Carpenter  be 
considered.  Date  October  17,  1837. 

1840.  A  land  conveyance  between  Hugh  Smith,  Eleanor,  his 
wife,  and  Dr.  John  Carpenter,  June  i,  1840,  mentions  two  parcels 
known  as  Nos.  121  and  122  in  New  Utrecht,  surveyed  by  Sidney 
Herbert,  1834.  It  was  bounded  by  Smith  Avenue  leading  from 
Stewart  Avenue  by  A.  Van  Brunt's  land,  comprising  5  acres. 

1845.  An  old  document  records  an  auction  sale  held  at  Peter 
Lett's,  March  7,  1845.  It  was  hoped  the  sale  would  be  for  cash, 
although  some  time  allowance  would  be  granted.  Among  the  citizens 
attracted  there  were:  John  Bergen,  Garret  Stryker,  S.  N.  Stillwell, 
Isaac  Van  Dyck,  A.  Elderts,  Jeromus  Suydam,  Nicholas  Stilwell, 
J.  W.  Cropsey,  G.  Ryder,  L.  Ryder,  D.  Duryea,  A.  VanSicklen. 

YELLOW  HOOK  BECOMES  BAY  RIDGE. 

1845-55.  There  has  never  been  any  "Official"  christening  for 
Bay  Ridge.  It  really  has  no  legal  name.  Before  the  Revolutionary 
war  the  land  between  Gowanus  and  the  Narrows  district  was  a 
succession  of  hilly  surfaces  with  the  highest  prominence  at  about  the 
present  7oth  to  86th  Streets.  The  locality  south  of  Gowanus  was 
known  as  "Yellow  Hook,"  because  of  the  color  of  its  soil.  It  was 
a  farming  community  along  the  shore  fronts  as  well  as  further  inland, 
with  fishing  industries  a  large  part  of  the  farmers'  income.  Many 
of  the  Narrows  and  New  Utrecht  settlers  also  owned  land  at  Yellow 


Hook,  due  to  various  transactions.  Some  of  the  settlers  also  owned 
land  in  New  Jersey,  which  appeared  to  be  an  "investment."  About 
1850  a  Syndicate  was  formed  of  some  50  artists  (or  those  in  art 
business),  with  a  view  to  developing  the  beautiful  tract  of  land  then 
known  as  Yellow  Hook,  which  lay  along  the  waters  of  the  Bay  and 
had  a  fine  forested  slope — in  fact  an  ideal  locality  for  homes  of 
people  of  means  and  artistic  taste.  Accordingly  the  Ovington  Syndi- 
cate Company  was  formed.  Mr.  Otto  Heinigke  was  President,  or 
Chairman.  The  Ovington  farmland  was  purchased,  the  district  being 
about  3d  to  7th  Avenues,  beween  72d  and  Bay  Ridge  Avenue.  Mem- 
bers became  incorporated  under  the  name  of  the  "Ovington  Village 
Association."  Mr.  Charles  Parsons,  Art  director  for  Harper  Bros., 


/ 


Old  Shore  Roadway 

was  the  First  President.  A  broad  avenue  was  opened  through  the 
center  of  the  plot  of  land  and  named  Ovington  Avenue.  Mr.  Joseph 
Perry  was  the  first  to  build  a  home  in  the  locality — between  First 
and  Second  Avenues,  on  the  south  side  of  Bay  Ridge  Avenue  (the 
house  was  torn  down  about  1900).  With  wealthy  gentlemen  from 
the  city  looking  for  sites  to  build  homes  the  name  of  Yellow  Hook 
sounded  rather  unsuitable  and  non-attractive.  It  was  Mr.  James 
Weir  who  happily  suggested  the  name  of  "Bay  Ridge"  for  the  new 
district  of  artistic  inhabitants  and  the  suggestion  was  immediately 


adopted  by  the  Ovington  Village  Association.  The  public  at  large 
followed  suit.  There  was  never  any  legal  grant  to  the  name,  how- 
ever. Yellow  Hook  simply  passed  out  of  existence  and  Bay  Ridge 
was  on  the  map  to  remain.  Plots  on  Ovington  Avenue  were  54  feet 
frontage ;  buildings  were  restricted  to  first  class  edifices.  Among,  the 
new  comers  were  Otto  Heinigke,  George  Schlegel,  S.  V.  Hunt, 
William  Williams,  Mr.  Herring,  Mr.  A.  Witt,  Otto  Laemel,  Jeremiah 
Meyer,  Jacob  J.  Moore,  Mr.  Pye,  Edward  Kent  and  a  few  others. 
Of  these,  Mr.  Kent  built  himself  a  "Castle,"  a  beautiful  edifice  of 
picturesque  appearance,  between  6o,th  and  7<Dth  Streets,  First  and 
Third  Avenues.  It  was  torn  down  about  1900.  His  brother,  Mr. 
Henry  Kent,  copied  the  style  of  architecture  and  had  his  own  "Castle" 
built  at  65th  Street  and  Third  Avenue.  That  house  still  remains. 
A  third  Kent  house  was  built  on  59th  Street  and  Second  Avenue  for 
the  daughter  of  Henry  Kent,  Miss  Susan,  who  later  married  Henry 
Hopkins.  The  City  Line  was  originally  58th  to  59th  Streets,  declares 
Mr.  Samuel  W.  Thomas,  a  resident  of  Bay  Ridge.  He  is  very  positive 
on  this  point.  The  third  Kent  house  was  sold  and  converted  into  the 
Bay  Ridge  Hospital  a  few  years  ago.  Mr.  McElroy  built  a  house  on 
what  is  now  7oth  Street  and  Third  Avenue.  A  beautiful  park  of 
trees  shaded  this  house  the  finest  series  of  immense  beech  trees  in 
any  part  of  the  country,  so  experts  have  declared.  This  property 
became  Mr.  W.  H.  Thomas',  1862,  he  being  known  as  "Commodore 
Thomas."  The  place  had  originally  been  a  public  park,  with  many 
objectionable  features  about  it.  Private  ownership  ended  the  picnic 
grounds  as  a  resort.  When  Mr.  Samuel  W.  Thomas  sought  a  build- 
ing site  near  his  brother's  home,  there  was  not  one  to  be  had. 

HON.  HENRY  C.  MURPHY. 

Among  the  new  and  handsome  estates,  embracing  a  large  park, 
was  the  home  of  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy  at  what  he  was  pleased  to 
designate  as  "Owls  Head"  (65th  Street),  but  which  title  was  always 
disputed  by  the  Van  Brunt  family  of  the  Shore  Road.  They  claimed, 
and  records  would  seem  to  prove,  that  the  true  Owls  Head  was  in 
reality  by  the  Van  Brunt  house,  located  near  82d-83d  Streets.  Dis- 
regarding this  dispute,  the  home  of  Mr.  Murphy  was  one  of  promi- 
nence for  many  years,  until  his  death,  when  the  great  library  he  had 
collected  and  the  historic  works  were  scattered.  He  was  Minister 
to  Holland,  a  man  of  scholarly  mind  and  culture,  a  brilliant  enter- 
tainer and  was  so  highly  respected  and  admired  as  to  have  been 
mentioned  for  the  Vice-Presidency  of  the  United  States.  He  also 
served  as  Editor  of  the  Brooklyn  Daily  Eagle.  It  is  doubly  fitting 

73 


that  his  paper  should  present  New  Utrecht  history.  His  beautiful 
home  by  the  waters  of  New  York  Bay  was  the  center  for  many 
delightful  social  events.  Mr.  Murphy  was  much  beloved  in  Bay 
Ridge  and  admired  for  his  brilliant  intellect  and  capabilities.  Upon 
his  death  the  estate  later  became  the  property  of  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
E.  W.  Bliss.  It  was  located  just  below  the  present  Third  Avenue 
and  65th  Street  line,  on  a  fine  prominence  overlooking  New  York 
Harbor.  The  Bliss  family,  like  Mr.  Murphy,  maintained  all  the  beauty 
and  dignity  of  the  estate  as  originally  planned  by  its  first  owner. 
It  continued  to  be  a  social  center.  Miss  Eva  Bliss  was  married  to 
Mr.  James  Warren  Lane  from  the  home,  June  19,  1890,  the  ceremony 
at  little  Christ  Church  being  followed  by  a  splendid  out  door  fete  on 
the  lawn  of  "Owls  Head,"  so  called.  The  event  passed  into  Bay 
Ridge  annals  as  one  to  be  remembered  for  many  a  day.  Another 
and  previous  event  of  opposite  recital,  was  the  great  anxiety  that  fell 
upon  the  entire  community — the  Yellow  Fever  epidemic,  1856.  Of 
that  period  it  is  perhaps  best  to  recount  facts  as  told  by  those  most 
prominently  identified  with  the  work  at  both  Fort  Hamilton  and 
Bay  Ridge.  The  village  of  New  Utrecht  was  within  tHe  line  of 
safety.  Those  villages  by  the  water  front  were  exposed  to  grave 
dangers  from  contagion  and  so  suffered  its  consequences. 

YELLOW  FEVER. 
(1856.) 

There  have  been  such  strange  and  even  contradictory  accounts 
of  the  yellow  fever  period  in  New  Utrecht  that  accurate  data  has 
been  sought  from  those  who  actually  were  on  the  scene  at  the  time. 
Gen.  Paul  A.  Oliver,  formerly  of  Fort  Hamilton,  now  a  citizen  of 
Oliver's  Mills,  Pennsylvania,  and  a  distinguished  veteran  of  the 
Civil  War,  has  contributed  his  own  impressions  of  those  times  in 
his  former  Township.  Dr.  A.  N.  Bell,  a  well  known  physician  of 
Brooklyn  and  Surgeon  of  the  U.  S.  Navy,  also  relates  much  of 
interest  concerning  that  dread  period  at  Fort  Hamilton. 

GENERAL  OLIVER'S  RECOLLECTIONS  OF  THE  YELLOW 
FEVER  AT  FORT  HAMILTON  AND  BAY  RIDGE. 

(As  written  by  himself  April,  1911.) 

"I  cannot  give  an  account  of  the  yellow  fever  episode  without 
bringing  myself  into  the  narrative,  which  is  rather  objectionable  to 
me,  but  is  unavoidable.  My  recollections  are  here  given  to  cull  from 
them  what  may  be  of  use  or  interest. 

74 


At  the  time  of  the  outbreak  the  quarantine  was  located  at  Staten 
Island,  several  vessels  which  were  badly  affected  with  yellow  fever 
were  anchored  (as  all  infected  vessels  were  at  that  time)  at  the  Quar- 
antine. But  the  people  of  Staten  Island  were  very  indignant  that 
these  yellow  fever  ships  were  placed  near  their  shores.  Their  strong 
protests  prevailed  in  having  these  vessels  placed  on  our  side,  in  a 
bay  opposite  what  was  then  known  as  Bath,  situated  between  Coney 
Island  and  Fort  Hamilton.  It  struck  me  at  the  time  as  a  very  danger- 
out  proceeding,  the  wind  blowing  in  a  direct  line  from  these  vessels 
to  us,  and  I  wrote  an  article,  published  in  the  Brooklyn  Eagle,  calling 
attention  to  the  danger  likely  to  arise  from  these  vessels  being  so 
placed,  and  the  liability  of  spreading  the  disease  along  our  shores. 
No  attention  was  paid  to  the  matter,  and  the  bedding  from  these 
vessels  floated  along  the  Bay  and  gradually  infected  the  whole  shore. 
One  of  the  first  of  our  neighbors  who  became  affected  was  Judge 
Rockwell,  who  died  after  a  short  illness.  Next  was  General  Stanton, 
who  succumbed  to  the  fever,  then  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cummings,  and  Mr. 
Chandler  White,  all  living  on  the  Bay. 

I  was  with  my  friends  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cummings  in  their  illness, 
and  it  was  very  sad  to  hear  them  talk  to  each  other,  one  in  one  room, 
the  other  in  an  adjoining  room,  both  being  hopeless  cases,  having 
the  black  vomit. 

The  residents  of  Fort  Hamilton  all  fled.  After  the  death  of 
Mr.  Chandler  White,  it  occurred  to  me  on  walking  along  the  shore, 
that  there  must  be  numbers  of  cases  among  the  fishermen,  who, 
though  badly  affected,  had  no  one  to  care  for  them.  I  entered  one 
house,  where  one  member  of  the  family  was  upstairs  ill,  and  another 
below,  and  the  sickening  spectacle  presented  itself  of  the  vomit  of  the 
persons  in  the  upper  room  leaking  down  through  the  floor  upon  the 
bed  of  the  person  below. 

That  night  I  called  upon  my  friend  Mr.  Sears,  and  brought 
together  Frank  Berrier,  William  Sears  and  his  brother  and  one  other 
whose  name  I  now  forget,  and  spoke  to  them  of  the  necessity  of 
making  some  provision  for  the  care  of  the  sick  among  those  who 
could  not  get  away.  We  then  and  there  formed  a  "Relief  Society," 
of  which  I  was  made  President  and  Frank  Berrier,  Secretary.  We 
had  with  us  at  Fort  Hamilton  a  German  physician  named  Dr.  Rothe, 
who  was  very  efficient.  We  called  in  the  aid  of  Dr.  Harris  of  the 
Quarantine  on  Staten  Island,  to  furnish  us  with  nurses,  and  he  came 
over  almost  every  day  to  aid  us  and  see  what  was  needed. 

The  members  of  the  Society  met  every  night  and  reported  any 
sick  people  in  their  District,  each  member  being  given  a  certain  part 

75 


of  the  village  to  visit  and  learn  if  there  were  any  sick  people  there. 
We  organized  a  Hospital  and  the  people  who  were  afflicted  were 
brought  to  the  Hospital,  where  Nurses  and  Medicine  were  on  hand 
for  their  relief  and  comfort.  In  our  efforts  we  were  aided  largely  by 
Dr.  A.  N.  Bell,  of  Brooklyn.  Dr.  Bell  had  been  in  the  Navy  and  had 
treated  yellow  fever  cases  in  his  various  cruises  in  regions  where 
yellow  fever  prevailed,  and  was  therefore  more  able  to  cope  with 
the  disease,  because  his  large  experience  had  thoroughly  acquainted 
him  with  its  various  phases.  It  was  on  him  we  chiefly  relied  in  the 
treatment  of  the  disease.  There  was  also  another  physician,  Dr. 
Walser,  who  came  to  help  us  occasionally  from  quarantine  on  Staten 
Island. 

During  this  period  Dr.  Bailey,  Surgeon  of  the  Fort,  an  officer 
over  60  years  old,  was  taken  with  the  fever  and  we  were  dreadfully 
afraid  he  would  succumb  to  the  disease  on  account  of  his  age.  With 
the  aid  of  Dr.  Bell  and  the  physicians  at  hand  we  finally  succeeded 
in  our  efforts  to  bring  him  through.  I  took  upon  myself  the  task  of 
looking  after  him.  Major  Morris,  Commander  of  the  Fort,  gave  us 
every  help  he  could  and  suspended  the  marching  and  beating  of  drums 
near  Dr.  Bailey's  quarters  while  he  was  ill. 

During  this  period  we  found  a  whole  family  in  New  Utrecht 
that  was  affected,  father,  mother,  and  three  children.  I  brought  them 
to  the  Hospital,  but  they  had  been  too  long  without  care,  and  they 
all  died  but  one  of  the  children.  A  woman  who  lived  in  the  same 
house  with  them,  refused  to  go  to  the  Hospital,  and  she  died  where 
she  was.  The  wife  of  a  farmer  in  New  Utrecht  also  died,  and  a 
whole  family  named  Bergen,  at  Bay  Ridge,  was  almost  entirely 
wiped  out.  To  our  surprise  there  was  a  family  in  Brooklyn  named 
Knapp  which  was  affected.  We  responded  to  their  call  for  help 
and  sent  them  nurses;  we  found  a  mob  had  collected  round  the 
house,  clamoring  to  remove  the  family  from  the  City.  They  were 
guided  by  us  and  with  care  the  family  recovered.  The  chief  diffi- 
culty at  first  was  that  no  one  knew  what  the  disease  was.  At  various 
points  along  the  shore  people  had  died,  and  Dr.  Bailey  having  said 
that  they  died  of  yellow  fever  the  people  of  the  village  were  so  indig- 
nant they  threatened  to  mob  the  Doctor.  But  he  was  right  in  diag- 
nosing it  as  yellow  fever. 

I  think  by  taking  the  matter  in  hand  at  the  time,  we  prevented 
the  spread  of  the  disease  to  Brooklyn.  The  nature  of  the  fever  was 
very  severe,  black  vomit  prevailing  in  every  fatal  case.  The  trouble 
lasted  from  July  till  November,  when  the  first  frost  made  it  safe  for 
people  to  return  to  their  homes. 

76 


We  were  very  grateful  to  Dr.  Harris  from  Quarantine,  for  the 
assistance  he  rendered  us  so  promptly  and  willingly,  and  I  cannot 
speak  too  highly  of  Dr.  A.  N.  Bell.  His  unremitting  care  and  atten- 
tion was  to  the  sick,  who  were  in  such  dire  need. 

In  regard  to  the  people  at  Fort  Hamilton,  Robt.  E.  Lee  and 
Jackson  were  there  in  1847,  I  think.  The  officers  of  the  Fort  were 
visitors  at  my  mother's  house.  There  was  a  large  hotel  then  near 
the  Fort,  and  people  from  New  York  came  to  spend  the  summer. 
The  resorts  along  the  Jersey  shore  were  then  unknown.  An  article 
appeared  in  a  New  York  paper,  I  think  the  Herald,  speaking  of  the 
Flying  Artillery,  and  its  great  cost  of  maintenance,  recommending 
its  being  abolished.  Soon  after  an  invitation  was  extended  by  the 
commander  of  the  Fort,  to  witness  a  review  of  the  Flying  Artillery. 
At  the  appointed  time,  everything  being  ready,  all  the  horses  being 
in  their  stalls,  at  the  command,  the  horses  were  harnessed  and  saddled, 
and  all  the  men  mounted  and  the  horses  attached  to  the  guns  and 
galloped  on  to  the  parade  ground,  placed  in  position,  loaded  and  fired, 
the  whole  occupying,  I  think,  two  minutes.  Jackson  at  that  time 
was  looked  upon  by  the  officers  as  very  pious,  and  was  not  a  very 
hearty  eater,  using  soft  foods  for  his  meals,  oatmeal  and  cereals. 

Among  the  people  I  remember,  were  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Prince,  Remsen, 
Bennett,  Rulef  Van  Brunt,  Nicholas  and  Charles  Van  Brunt, 
Berriers,  Sears,  George  S.  Gelston  (Gelston  had  two  daughters  and 
a  son),  Charles  and  Tom  Church,  Mrs.  Chandler  White;  there  were 
several  Bennetts,  and  the  Thomas  McElroys.  It  is  so  long  ago,  that 
I  have  forgotten  the  names  of  a  good  many.  Fort  Hamilton  was  a 
favorite  resort,  the  Hotel  was  well  kept,  and  the  ladies  used  to  be  rowed 
along  the  shore  on  moonlight  nights,  singing  as  they  were  rowed 
along  by  their  young  gallants.  I  have  given  you  what  I  remember, 
you  are  very  welcome  if  there  is  anything  that  interests  you.  I  am 
over  80  and  my  memory  is  not  very  good. 

PAUL  A.  OLIVER/' 

NOTE — While  Mr.  Oliver  modestly  refrains  from  telling  of  himself  it  is  no  harm 
for  friends  to  say  that  after  he  left  Fort  Hamilton  those  friends  knew  he  emerged 
from  the  Civil  War  with  splendid  record  and  "General"  added  to  his  name.  In 
business  he  was  equally  successful — a  Pennsylvania  man  whom  old  New  Utrecht 
residents  have  recalled  with  much  love  and  highest  esteem.  He  had  been  their 
friend  in  time  of  need ;  they  wanted  him  in  New  Utrecht  history — and  he  is  there. 


77 


DR.  A.  N.  BELL. 

Well  known  as  a  practical  sanitarian  and  for  more  than  thirty 
years  editor  and  publisher  of  The  Sanitarian  (which  he  discontinued, 
per  se,  and  consolidated  with  The  Popular  Science  Monthly  in  1904), 
was  the  physician  who  did  so  much  for  the  restriction  and  extermi- 
nation of  the  yellow  fever  at  Fort  Hamilton  and  Bay  Ridge,  1856. 
He  demonstrated  to  the  medical  profession  and  the  people  that  the 
disease  was  not  personally  contagious.  Dr.  Bell,  an  Ex-Surgeon, 
U.  S.  Navy,  had  but  recently  become  a  resident  of  Brooklyn.  He 
had  many  experiences  with  yellow  fever,  acquired  during  naval  ser- 
vice in  the  Mexican  war  and  elsewhere.  At  the  instance  of  Dr. 
Elisha  Harris,  physician  of  the  Marine  Hospital,  S.  I.,  Dr.  Bell's 
service  was  requested.  The  Fort  Hamilton  Relief  Association,  with 
Paul  A.  Oliver,  its  President  (in  co-operation  with  the  two  others, 
Sears  and  Colonel  Berrier),  was  in  progress  of  organization.  By  the 
aid  of  Mr.  George  Gelston,  a  small  building  on  the  shore  was  con- 
verted into  a  hospital.  Dr.  C.  G.  Rothe,  an  accomplished  young 
German  physician,  accepted  the  position  of  resident  physician,  for 
the  sake  of  the  promised  experience.  Drs.  Crane  and  DuBois  were 
New  Utrecht  practitioners  and  extremely  active  from  the  outset. 
Both  contracted  the  disease  and  died  of  it,  self-sacrificing  soldiers, 
eminently  worthy  of  their  calling,  Dr.  Bell  relates.  But  not  so  a 
local  physician  and  protege  of  Robert  H.  Cuming  (public  spirited 
citizen,  devoted  to  the  welfare  of  the  poor,  on  whose  account  he 
remained  at  home,  notwithstanding  the  fever)  to  whose  wife,  then 
in  extremis  with  the  disease,  this  young  physician  was  called.  He 
had  never  seen  a  case  of  yellow  fever.  He  contended  against  the 
opinion  of  Dr.  Bailey,  Army  Surgeon  of  the  Fort,  who  was  familiar 
with  it.  Dr.  Bell  was  called  in.  Ere  Dr.  Bell  had  said  a  word,  after 
a  minute's  examination,  and  before  he  had  spoken,  the  young  doctor 
exclaimed,  "Now,  Dr.  Bell,  do  you  think  it's  yellow  fever?"  Dr. 
Bell's  reply  was  to  the  point,  "I  know  it's  yellow  fever."  The  patient 
died  of  it.  It  is  very  interesting  to  note  Dr.  Bell's  vivid  recollections 
of  that  time,  with  its  attending  pathos  and  humor  combined.  There 
is  no  one  more  earnest  and  serious  minded  when  occasion  demands 
it  than  Dr.  Bell,  nor  anyone  more  appreciative  of  humor  than  he. 
Great  depths  of  character  are  his  attributes.  His  experiences  in  life 
have  been  many  and  varied.  To-day  he  is  about  the  only  one  left 
who  can  tell,  technically  and  intimately,  of  the  plague  that  devastated 
many  homes  in  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht  during  1856. 

The  first  case  of  yellow  fever  on  shore  was  July  29th.  It  was 
not  in  one  of  the  poor  homes,  either.  The  total  number  of  cases 

78 


was  175,  with  only  ten  cases  of  the  disease  known  in  Brooklyn,  and 
34  in  New  York.  Dr.  Bell  believes  the  number  of  deaths  in  New 
Utrecht  numbered  somewhere  about  30  to  35,  which,  considering 
the  then  scattered  population,  seemed  a  great  many  to  the  alarmed 
natives  of  the  town.  The  Doctor  recalls  that  Judge  Rockwell  was 
among  the  first  to  pass  away.  General  Stanton  soon  followed,  Mr. 
Cuming  was  ill  with  the  fever  when  Dr.  Bell  was  called  in,  but  had 
kept  up  by  force  of  will  until  Mrs.  Cuming  died,  early  the  next  morn- 
ing. He  then  consented  to  be  put  to  bed  and  died  in  about  twelve 
hours.  The  Rev.  Mr.  Scofield,  rector  of  St.  John's  P.  E.  Church  at 
Fort  Hamilton  and  a  close  friend  of  the  Cuming's  family  entreated 
Dr.  Bell  to  stay  on  duty  the  night  of  his  first  call  and  nurse  his  dear 
friends.  Dr.  Bell  had  declared  he  did  not  "think"  the  case  to  be 
yellow  fever — he  knew  it  to  be.  The  attending  physician  vacated 
the  premises  and  left  town  the  next  day.  Although  it  had  been  Dr. 
Bell's  custom  to  return  to  his  Brooklyn  home  each  night,  paying 
two  visits  to  the  Fort  every  day,  he  satisfied  Rev.  Mr.  Scofield  by 
remaining  that  particular  night  with  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cuming,  telling 
the  anxious  clergyman,  "I  will  not  need  to  nurse  them  for  very  long." 
This  proved  to  be  true.  Mrs.  Cuming  died  but  a  few  hours  before 
her  husband.  Both  died  of  yellow  fever.  They  lived  in  what  later 
became  known  as  "the  old  Bailey  house." 

Another  incident  of  the  epidemic  is  recalled  with  deep  feeling, 
even  to  this  day — Dr.  Bell's  first  introduction  to  George  Hall,  Mayor 
of  Brooklyn.  Mayor  Hall  is  said  to  have  been  "a  most  useful  and 
good  man,"  as  well  as  Mayor.  It  appears  that  one  night  when  Dr. 
Bell  was  driving  to  Brooklyn,  after  hard  duties  at  the  Fort,  a  man's 
voice  broke  the  stillness.  "Oh,  Doctor,  I  have  been  waiting  for  you 
to  come  along — come,  see  my  poor  wife."  So  Dr.  Bell,  following  the 
man,  entered  one  of  the  wretched  little  fisher  homes  on  the  shore 
road.  There  the  wife  lay,  very  ill,  with  a  young  babe.  The  house 
was  built  in  the  hillside,  one  door,  and  only  a  window  in  front,  with 
a  four-light  window  on  one  side  at  the  corner.  Nobody  was  there 
with  wife  and  babe  but  the  husband.  To  him,  after  needful  attention 
to  wife  and  babe,  Dr.  Bell  gave  directions  to  go  to  the  hospital  of 
the  Relief  Association,  with  a  note  to  Dr.  Rothe.  A  nurse  was  to 
come  early  as  possible  next  morning,  to  nurse  the  woman  and  also 
clean  up  and  whitewash,  particularly  the  room  upstairs. 

MAYOR  GEORGE  HALL  OF  BROOKLYN. 

The  husband  was  told  that  he  (Dr.  Bell)  would  be  along  before 
ten  o'clock  next  morning,  and  would  take  the  woman  upstairs.  In- 

79 


structions  were  obeyed  and  promises  kept.  But  on  arriving  at  the 
house  and  entering,  Dr.  Bell,  to  his  intense  amazement  found  the 
room  empty,  clean  and  whitewashed.  Then  he  was  met  by  the 
nurse,  whom  he  followed  upstairs.  There  he  found  the  woman  and 
babe  on  a  comfortable  bed,  in  a  well  cleaned  and  whitewashed  room. 
On  a  little  table  beside  the  bed  was  a  sliced  orange  on  ice.  "Who 
helped  you  do  all  this?"  asked  the  astonished  Doctor.  "The  Mayor, 
Sir;  he  came  along  and  stopped  to  see  what  I  was  doing  and  said, 
says  he,  Til  help  ye,'  and  then  he  says,  'now  come  along  and  I'll  help 
you  take  the  woman  upstairs.'  I  told  him  I  was  afraid  to  have  him, 
because  you  was  so  particular;  that  you  lifted  all  the  sick  people 
about  yourself.  Then  he  had  me  tell  him  how  you  wouldn't  let  their 
heads  be  raised ;  how  you  took  'em  by  their  head  and  shoulders,  and 
the  nurse  took  'em  by  the  feet  and  kept  'em  flat.  'Come  along  then,' 
he  says,  'and  I'll  take  the  head.'  And  he  did,  just  so  sur.  And  then 
he  hurried  out,  because  he  didn't  want  you  to  find  him  here.  An' 
now  he's  gone  again,  after  running  in  with  this  orange  and  ice,  which 
I  told  him,  when  he  ax'd  me  what  you  gave  'em  to  eat,  you  let  'em 
have."  Poor  things,  both  mother  and  babe  died  of  the  fever  within 
a  week.  "And  that,"  said  old  Dr.  Bell,  with  deep  and  affectionate 
feeling,  "was  my  first  introduction  to  the  then  Mayor  of  Brooklyn, — 
George  Hall.  His  name  ought  to  go  down — I  am  giving  it  to  you 
for  such  purpose." 

Of  Dr.  Crane  and  Dr.  DuBois  it  was  told  that  Dr.  Bell  was  with 
them  in  their  illness  and  later  saw  their  bodies.  They  remained  on 
duty  until  stricken.  The  whole  town  mourned  their  death,  later 
erecting  a  monument  to  their  memory  in,  the  village  cemetery. 

A  vein  of  humor  induced  Doctor  Bell  to  relate  how  he  smuggled 
Dr.  Bailey  from  Fort  Hamilton  to  I4th  Street,  New  York.  The  Sears 
brothers,  Colonel  Berrier  and  Paul  A.  Oliver  helped  him.  Dr.  Bailey 
had  been  extremely  ill  with  the  fever.  He  was  weathering  it  with 
feeble  convalescence,  after  three  weeks  illness,  when  about  three 
o'clock  one  morning  his  nurse  was  alarmed  by  symptoms  of  collapse. 
Dr.  Bell  was  hurriedly  sent  for.  After  more  than  an  hour's  anxious 
effort  (noting  meanwhile  the  unfavorable  surroundings  at  the  Fort) 
Dr.  Bell  recognized  symptoms  of  survival.  Bailey  raised  himself  up. 

The  group  of  his  ever  faithful  helpers,  the  Sears  brothers,  Mr. 
Berrier  and  Mr.  Oliver,  all  of  whom  had  been  alarmed  by  Dr.  Bailey's 
condition  and  gathered  at  his  headquarters,  asked  Dr.  Bell  what  they 
could  do. '  "Can  you  procure  a  good  easy  wagon,  with  curtains,  big 
enough  to  hold  a  bed?"  "Yes,"  said  the  Sears  brothers,  "We  can  get 
an  army  wagon."  "Then  do  it,"  said  Dr.  Bell.  Mrs.  Bailey,  to  be 

80 


fairly  near  her  husband,  was  at  this  time,  with  a  nursing  babe,  visit- 
ing her  brother-in-law,  on  I4th  Street,  New  York.  The  wagon  was 
procured  and  furnished.  The  bed  being  first  heated  to  the  verge  of 
scorching,  and  so  too,  Dr.  Bailey's  clothing  and  wrappings.  "He  was 
passive  and  mum  as  a  baby,"  said  Dr.  Bell.  Wagon  curtains  were 
dropped  from  the  top,  to  admit  air  and  exclude  light.  A  careful  driver 
was  procured,  to  whom  Dr.  Bell  gave  explicit  directions,  saying  at 
the  last,  "Drive  on.  Stop  for  no  other  business ;  answer  no  questions. 
I'll  take  a  different  route  to  the  I4th  Street  house  and  be  there  before 
you."  He  was,  and  took  Dr.  Bailey  in  his  arms  upstairs,  to  the 
nursing  care  of  his  wife.  It  was  enough  for  her,  as  it  was  for  her 
husband,  that  Dr.  Bell  said  there  was  no  danger. 

Dr.  Bell  himself  had  yellow  fever  during  service  in  the  Mexican 
war.  He  met  Dr.  Bailey  there  and  Bailey  pulled  Bell  safely  through 
the  illness.  It  was  during  a  branch  of  the  service  at  Vera  Cruz.  They 
met  again  at  Fort  Hamilton,  under  pressure  of  work  caused  by  the 
yellow  fever  there.  But  that  time  Dr.  Bailey  fell  ill.  Dr.  Bell  fought 
to  save  him  and  he  did.  This  is  the  true  recital  of  that  frequently 
told  tale,  distorted  often  by  those  who  simply  knew  that  one  person 
had  been  allowed  to  pass  the  danger  lines  during  the  epidemic  and 
that  Dr.  Bell  was  the  physician  who  allowed  it.  Dr.  Bailey  died  about 
twenty  years  ago,  in  Putnam  County.  His  children  and  grand- 
children have  never  forgotten  Dr.  Bell.  Once,  Dr.  Bailey  was  heard 
to  exclaim  in  laughing  mood,  "I  wouldn't  be  here  now  except  for  Bell — 
if  he  had  told  them  to  pitch  me  into  the  East  River  I  expect  they'd 
have  done  it — but  he  did  not  and  I'm  here." 

Some  months  after  Dr.  Bailey  recovered  and  it  had  become  known 
how  Dr.  Bell  challenged  health  ordinances,  one  of  the  health  com- 
missioners of  the  city,  took  occasion  to  remark  to  Dr.  Bell,  "We  ought 
to  arrest  you  now."  But  from  the  twinkle  in  both  men's  eyes,  as 
Dr.  Bailey's  rescue  was  mentioned,  it  was  plain  to  the  yellow  fever 
expert  that  no  warrant  was  out  for  his  arrest,  nor  one  even  contem- 
plated. This  has  been  one  of  Dr.  Bell's  most  cherished  memories 
of  the  fever  epidemic.  He  tells,  in  gleeful  way,  how  he  issued  daily 
bulletins  of  Dr.  Bailey's  condition  to  those  at  Fort  Hamilton  and 
the  Relief  Association  Bulletin,  while  the  patient  was  really  in  New 
York.  "We  were  mighty  busy  people  those  days — mighty  busy," 
the  doctor  has  said  in  speaking  of  the  many  duties  that  crowded 
each  other.  During  his  lifetime,  Dr.  Bell  has  written  much  for  the 
medical  profession,  besides  volumes  of  the  Sanitarian,  standing  to  his 
credit. 

6  81 


Eliciting  Dr.  Bell's  opinion  with  regard  to  "how  the  disease  was 
introduced,"  he  is  no  less  certain  now  than  he  was  at  that  time.  "It 
was  by  means  of  the  abominable  quarantine  maintained,  in  conjunc- 
tion with  congenial  conditions  of  the  locality  and  the  climate."  Refer- 
ring to  his  record,  "On  the  9th  day  of  July,  1856,  the  plain  of  sand 
at  Fort  Hamilton  and  Bay  Ridge  was  subjected  to  an  unusually  heavy 
rain  (1.80  inches),  which  from  the  conformation  of  the  surface  could 
not  run  off.  It  became  waterlogged  and  settled  into  pools.  High 
temperature  came.  Recorded  at  7.2  and  9  o'clock  daily,  was  82.958  F., 
ranging  as  high  as  99°.  On  the  27th  the  temperature  at  2  o'clock  was 
95° ;  28th  97°,  on  the  29th  80°.  The  mean  of  the  hygrometer  for  the 
same  period  was  75°  80'.  For  the  nineteen  days  inclusive,  from  the 
9th  to  the  28th,  there  had  been  but  .01  inch  of  rain  on  the  i5th.  On 
the  29th  it  rained  .30  inches.  During  this  period  the  wind  ranged 
from  S.  W.  to  N.  W.  From  the  2ist  to  the  29th  from  S.  W.  only." 

During  this  drought  and  high  temperature,  the  sandy  plain  of 
Bay  Ridge  and  Fort  Hamilton  was  several  degrees  hotter  than  the 
atmosphere,  which  increased  the  evaporation  from  the  surface  and 
loaded  the  atmosphere  with  moisture.  Unfortunately  these  condi- 
tions were  exposed  to  a  line  of  yellow  fever  infected  ships,  anchored 
within  a  few  hundred  yards  of  the  shore,  directly  in  the  way  of  the 
then  prevailing  wind.  Conditions  were  ideal  for  propagation  of  the 
germs  (with  or  without  mediation  of  mosquitoes),  brought  by  the 
vessels,  then  and  there  quarantined  as  described.  Climate,  local  con- 
ditions, and  presence  of  the  disease  germs  were  circumstances  under 
which  the  disease  was  introduced. 

Dr.  Bell  represents  one  of  the  older  type  of  courtly  gentlemen, 
keen  of  mind  and  forceful  of  words,  with  Christianity  his  stronghold  and 
rock.  He  is  a  great  reader  and  thinker  even  at  the  present  time  and 
enjoys  many  quiet  hours  in  the  rooms  of  the  Long  Island  Historical 
Society,  among  his  friendly  books. 

With  recovery  from  its  epidemic,  New  Utrecht  straightway  took 
courage.  Families  who  had  fled  or  moved  further  inland,  returned 
to  take  up  their  accustomed  duties  and  places  as  residents.  So  passed 
the  horror  of  the  Yellow  Fever  epidemic.  It  thus  goes  down  in 
history. 

With  the  advent  of  the  Civil  War  the  township  became  a  military 
center  as  well  as  a  political  prison  home.  Two  Forts,  within  the 
town  limits,  made  war  happenings  of  intense  interest.  New  Utrecht 
sent  its  complement  of  soldiers  to  the  front.  It  would  be  impossible 
to  state  each  name  but  records  include  many  of  the  old  Dutch  names. 

82 


There  were,  on  the  other  hand,  many  who  sided  with  the  Confederacy 
and  talked  bitterly  of  President  Lincoln,  until  prison  bars  of  Fort 
Lafayette  nearly  closed  their  career.  It  would  be  impossible  to 
designate  all  these  persons.  North  and  South  had  their  respective 
adherents,  although  the  North  was  in  predominance,  as  muster  rolls 
prove.  Under  heading  "Forts  Hamilton  and  Lafayette"  an  account 
of  these  two  important  posts  is  given.  The  United  States  Govern- 
ment has  never  compiled  data  of  its  forts  commanding  New  York 
Harbor,  strange  to  say,  and  until  this  book  appeared,  Washington, 

D.  C,   has    had   only   scattered    documentary   evidence   of   its   two 
defences  by  the  Narrows. 

One  of  the  incidents  connected  with  Civil  War  days  at  the  Fort 
.is  that  recalled  by  Mrs.  Greenoway  of  New  Utrecht,  who  lived,  dur- 
ing the  war,  with  a  Mrs.  Biel.  The  latter  woman  had  two  sons  in 
the  Army,  one  with  Southern  troops  and  one  with  Northern.  Very 
anxiously  this  proud  mother  watched  the  progress  of  these  beloved 
sons  during  Lincoln's  struggle.  Finally  she  received  word  that  the 
Southern  boy  was  at  Fort  Lafayette,  a  prisoner,  charged  with  attempt- 
ing to  poison  the  reservoir  of  New  York's  water  supply.  The  prisoner 
was  under  sentence  of  death.  The  mother  gave  no  outward  show 
of  sympathy  or  feeling  for  her  son,  calmly  sending  word  back  to 
him  "you  must  not  hope  to  see  your  mother — now."  During  the 
war  Fort  Lafayette  was  used  as  a  prison.  Considerable  of  those  times 
are  told  in  the  reminiscences  of  the  Gelston  and  Church  families, 
whose  homes  were  close  to  both  forts.  Recollections  of  Gen.  Robert 

E.  Lee   and   of  "Stonewall"  Jackson   are  among  other  matters   of 
interest.     These   two   Southern   gentlemen   left   a   vivid   impression 
behind  them   at   Fort   Hamilton,  which   impressions  are  mentioned 
on  other  pages  of  this  book.     With  the  close  of  the  Civil  War  and 
the  Union  safe,  peace  and  quiet  once  more  reigned  in  old  New  Utrecht. 
But  it  was  only  a  dormant  state  for  the  lands  that  lay  so  close  to  the 
city  of  Brooklyn.    Brooklyn  began  soon  to  stretch  outward  in  several 
directions  and  New  Utrecht  was  one  of  them.     When  Mr.  Samuel 
W.  Thomas  wanted  to  purchase  an  estate  near  his  brothers,  at  Bay 
Ridge,  the  farmers  there  would  not  sell.    They  needed  the  land,  was 
reported.     But  they  realized,  or  their  sons  did,  that  farming  days  in 
New  Utrecht  were  forever  ended.    Selling  land  became  more  profitable 
than  selling  crops.    With  removal  of  Mr.  W.  H.  Thomas,  his  brother, 
Samuel  W.,  became  next  owner  of  the  estate.    He  still  resides  in  the 
homestead.     It  now  has  a  side  entrance  on  72d  Street,  with  a  row 
of  city  houses  and  stores  directly  in  front  of  his  porch.    It  once  over- 
looked a  beautiful  grove  of  beech  trees. 

83 


Soon  the  big  house  must  give  way  to  progress  and  be  demolished. 
Mr.  Thomas  recently  watched  the  last  of  the  big  trees  on  Third 
Avenue  fall  under  the  axe.  In  former  years  Third  Avenue  was  shaded 
by  fine  trees.  All  have  been  cut  down. 

One  of  the  well  preserved  types  of  handsome  farmhouse  is  that 
owned  and  occupied  by  the  David  C.  Bennett  family,  79th  Street,  not 
far  from  the  S.  W.  Thomas  estate.  Mr.  Bennett  descends  from  the 
Colonial  ancestor  of  that  name,  with  intermarriages  into  practically 
all  the  old  families  of  the  Township.  The  Bennetts  of  the  Shore  Road 
and  the  Bennetts  of  inland  residence  have  never  claimed  close  rela- 
tionship, but  it  is  positively  established  that  both  branches  descend 
from  Willemse  Bennet  of  1636-39  Gowanus  settlement.  They  have, 
therefore,  the  distinction  of  remembering  that  their  ancestor  built  the 
first  house  in  Breucklen,  Gowanus  having  that  distinction. 

Mr.  David  C.  Bennett  once  expressed  a  desire  to  know  how  the 
late  David  Bennett  Hill  (Gov.  of  N.  Y.  State)  received  his  name. 
The  Bay  Ridge  man,  however,  never  pressed  the  question.  Mr. 
Bennett  has  always  been  regarded  as  a  type  of  rugged  Dutch  farmer, 
averse  to  social  or  public  notice,  with  home  and  family  first.  As  a 
market  gardener,  in  years  past,  he  had  no  peer.  It  has  been  said  of 
him  that  he  slept  with  one  ear  and  one  eye  open,  to  understand  the 
slightest  change  in  temperature  over  night,  hence  his  great  success 
in  beating  records  for  early  crops  intended  for  New  York  markets. 
He  was  born  in  the  little  farmhouse  just  above  his  present  home — 
the  Christopher  Bennett  home,  also  on  79th  Street. 

Further  along  the  same  street,  on  what  was  a  "Lane,"  still  stands 
the  old  Furman  homestead,  a  relic  of  long  ago  days.  It  is  in  reality 
"the  old  Bogart  house,"  being  descended  from  the  Bogart  family  of 
Colonial  and  Revolutionary  fame.  Lizzie  Bogart  married  John  C. 
Furman,  for  many  years  well  known  in  Brooklyn,  when  Hugh 
McLoughlin  was  a  political  power.  Mr.  Furman  was  a  great  favorite 
at  the  City  Hall.  McLoughlin  often  visited  the  old  Furman  home- 
stead and  the  big  tree  spreading  out  its  branches  by  the  front  door, 
has  shaded  the  "Boss"  upon  many  an  occasion.  Miss  Louise  Furman 
married  a  Mr.  French  and  occupies  the  home  at  present.  New 
streets  being  cut  through  will  cause  the  house  to  be  demolished  ere 
long. 

Beyond  Stewart  Avenue  is  found  the  Denyse  and  Reynold  houses, 
the  latter  showing  age  and  quaintness.  Mr.  Peter  Denyse,  Sr«  and 
Jr.,  occupy  the  lands  descended  from  their  ancestor  on  the  Denyse 
branch  and  are  the  only  descendants  to  have  correctly  retained  the 

84 


original  way  of  spelling  their  name  (as  Denyse  Denyse  spelled  his). 
Mr.  Denyse,  Sr.,  has  the  distinction  of  having  been  a  pupil  at  each 
of  the  three  schools  in  the  Town.  He  remembers  them  very  well. 
Living  in  a  central  location  it  was  difficult  to  decide  which  school 
was  nearest  to  his  home.  Both  Peter  Denyse  and  Adrian  B.,  to  say 
nothing  of  Simon  Denyse,  have  done  much  for  their  township. 
Adrian  B.  passed  away  during  1909,  a  prominent  figure  in  the  M.  E. 
Church,  where  the  Denyse  family  worshipped.  His  home  was  in  the 
old  Reynolds  house,  adjacent  to  the  Peter  Denyse  house  on  79th  Street. 
This  street,  from  the  Shore  Road  to  New  Utrecht  village  limits,  has  been 
made  into  a  broad  city  street.  Gone  are  all  the  pretty  wooded  sec- 
tions, the  little  pond,  the  "Lanes,"  etc.  It  was  where  Walter  A. 
Johnson's  father  bought  property  and  resided,  about  1889,  that  later 
developed  into  "Dyker  Heights."  This  became  an  area  for  homes 
of  city  people  who  wished  a  taste  of  country.  New  streets  were  put 
through  former  farmlands,  with  a  result  that  many  modern  homes 
vie  with  the  old  ones  in  attractiveness.  Not  a  few  of  the  new  styles 
of  architecture  revert  to  olden  time  lines.  With  Brooklyn's  growth 
it  became  the  natural  thing  to  consider  annexation  to  the  city. 

"GREATER  NEW  YORK." 

Under  the  signature  of  Gov.  Levi  P.  Morton,  the  Township  of 
New  Utrecht  was  finally  annexed  to  Brooklyn,  May  3,  1894.  "Greater 
New  York"  was  thus  realized.  With  all  the  consequent  changes  soon 
felt  and  seen  by  the  residents  of  the  old  Dutch  Town  of  New  Utrecht 
it  has  been  interesting  to  gather  many  of  the  records  of  past  days. 
Soon  there  will  be  nothing  left  but  records  and  a  few  Dutch  landmarks. 

FORT  HAMILTON  AND  FORT  LAFAYETTE. 

Not  every  old  Dutch  Township  can  boast  two  Forts  all  its  own, 
nor  every  Township  that  has  a  great  responsibility  at  its  door — 
guarding  the  City  of  New  York.  From  the  earliest  date  of  settlement 
New  Netherland  recognized  its  exposed  position  on  the  Harbor.  The 
Narrows  was  considered  the  outer  door  of  safety  for  the  Colonies, 
even  then.  From  old  documents  it  is  known  that  the  first  Fort  was 
begun  during  1626,  at  the  Island  of  Manhatans.  This  was  embraced 
in  a  tract  of  land  comprising  22  acres,  being  purchased  from  the 
Indians  for  60  guilders,  or  about  $24  present  currency.  "A  large  fort, 
with  four  angles  and  faced  with  solid  stone  was  staked  out  by  engineer 
Kryn  Frederycke  on  the  Southern  part  of  the  Island."  Its  command- 
ing site  was  even  then  understood  and  planned  for.  The  place  was 

85 


named  "Royal  Fort."  It  overlooked  Nutten  Island,  Hellgate  and 
some  low  land,  the  middle  being  left  as  a  hillock,  to  serve  as  a 
"Battery."  While  the  fort  was  being  completed,  the  name  finally 
chosen  was  that  of  Fort  Amsterdam,  at  Manhatans.  Staten  Island 
had  a  redout  built  by  the  Narrows,  September  12,  1641,  to  warn  Fort 
Amsterdam  when  a  vessel  arrived  in  the  Lower  Bay.  The  signal 
was  arranged  by  hoisting  a  flag  on  the  bluff  on  Staten  Island, 
which  could  be  plainly  seen  from  the  Battery  of  Fort  Amsterdam. 
This  was  the  first  raising  of  a  flag  in  the  Colonies.  During  1643, 
the  settlers  found  themselves,  through  their  own  abuse  of  the 
Indians,  involved  in  warfare  with  them.  A  Jesuit  Priest  at  New 
Netherland  tells  the  following:  "This  Fort,  which  is  at  the  point 
of  the  Island,  is  called  Fort  Amsterdam.  It  has  four  bastions 
mounted  with  several  pieces  of  artillery.  Ramparts  of  earth  had 
crumbled  away — the  fort  could  be  entered  from  all  sides.  There  were 
sixty  soldiers  to  garrison  the  fort  and  another  one  which  was  built 
still  further  up,  against  incursions  of  the  savages,  their  enemies. 
They  were  beginning  to  face  the  gates  and  bastions  with  stone." 
From  this  description  it  will  be  seen  that  Fort  Amsterdam  was  a 
poor  sort  of  defence.  In  1645,  peace  was  declared  with  the  Indians. 
At  this  time  the  pay  of  a  soldier  was  about  $50  annually." 

November  15,  1651.  What  must  be  considered  establishment  of 
a  fort  at  the  Narrows  is  information  conveyed  in  a  letter  written  by 
Governor  Stuyvesant  to  the  Directors  in  Holland.  (Fernow's,  145.) 
It  states  that  work  had  been  done  on  the  Fort,  also  the  other  new  fort, 
only  to  have  it  trampled  down  by  cattle  and  hogs,  mentioning  the 
Company's  servants  going  to  the  South  River  to  build  a  new  fort, 
for  still  better  defence. 

1653.  Progress  made  and  mention  of  those  who  contributed 
provisionally,  "the  following  sums  for  repairs  of  the  defences  of  this 
place."  It  was  agreed,  at  a  meeting  of  the  "Schepens"  at  Fort 
Amsterdam,  that  Manhatans  should  be  provided  with  palisades  and 
breastworks  and  a  Fort  be  placed  in  state  for  defence.  That  4,000  or 
5,000  guilders  be  paid  into  the  treasury  for  the  necessary  work.  This 
document  was  signed  by 

Mr.  VAN  WOERCKHOVEN,  £200. 

JACOB  VAN  COUWENHOVEN,  £150. 

PETER  BUYS,  £100. 

P.  VAN  COUVENHOVEN,  £109. 

Under  the  Breda  Treaty,  July,  1667,  England  had  possession.  In 
1673,  Holland  and  England  again  warred,  the  Dutch  compelling 

86 


Commander  Governor  Manning  to  surrender  "James  Forte."  The 
name  of  New  York  became  New  Orange  and  Fort  James  became 
Fort  William  Henry.  In  1674  the  Fort  had  four  batteries  enclosed 
by  a  double  row  of  Palisades.  It  had  one  gate,  on  the  Beaverway 
(Broadway)  side.  During  1674  New  Orange  and  its  fort  returned 
to  English  rule,  resuming  its  former  names  of  New  York  and  Fort 
James,  then  Fort  George,  until  its  demolition  at  the  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war. 

1674.  The  Duke  of  York  raised  a  Military  Company  under  the 
King's  permission  and  order.  Governor  Andros  was  made  Captain, 
Anthony  Brockholk,  First  Lieutenant;  Christopher  Billop,  Second 
Lieutenant ;  Caesar  Knapton,  Ensign ;  there  was  a  Chaplain  and  Sur- 
geon, names  not  known.  Date  July,  1674. 

It  is  interesting  to  state  that  Christopher  Billop  was  an  important  man  in  the 
King's  official  government.  This  Military  man  is  he  who  later  received  a  grant  of 
land  and  had  a  handsome  stone  mansion  built  for  him,  where  Tottenville,  S.  I.,  now 
stands.  The  Billop  mansion  was  an  imposing  structure  those  days,  close  by  the 
water's  edge  and  near  to  Jersey.  Toryism  made  its  1776  record  one  not  to  be  for- 
gotten. Many  noted  soldiers  have  been  within  its  walls;  many  British  plots  and  ac- 
tions were  traceable  to  the  Billop  house.  It  still  stands  as  a  monument  to  past  days. 

1678.  The  fort  was  of  stone,  mounting  46  guns,  having  four 
bastions,  and  was  commanded  by  English  soldiers.  (Brodhead's,  313.) 
It  being  difficult  to  establish  Episcopalism  in  New  York,  so  called 
"Chaplains"  were  appointed.  Rev.  Alexander  Jones  was  to  succeed 
Rev.  Josiah  Clarke  as  the  "orthodox  Chaplain  of  his  garrison  at  Fort 
James,"  said  the  King.  At  this  time  the  population  of  New  York 
was  about  18,000  souls.  (Brodhead,  457.) 

1687.  Fort  James  under  repair  work  at  this  date.  Garrison  and 
fort  covered  two  acres.  There  were  4,000  soldiers  afoot,  300  mounted, 
also  a  Company  of  Dragoons  flourishing. 

1691.  When  Governor  Slaughter  arrived  at  New  York  and  took 
possession  of  Fort  James  March,  1691  (then  held  by  Jacob  Leisler, 
whom  history  tells  of)  he  named  the  place  "Fort  William  Henry," 
in  honor  of  the  new  King.  There  is  no  special  mention  of  the  Narrows 
defence  work  during  the  early  1700  period.  But  in  1776  that  locality 
went  down  in  history  as  a  famed  spot — the  British  landed  between 
the  home  of  Simon  Cortelyou  and  the  village  of  Bath.  As  they  took 
possession  of  the  country  thereabouts,  before  proceeding  on  to 
Brooklyn,  the  matter  of  needing  proper  fortifications  at  that  end  of 
the  approach  to  New  York,  became  more  than  evident.  They  had 
landed  in  overwhelming  forces ;  there  was  no  defence  to  keep  them 
out.  The  Government  was  soon  called  upon  to  accomplish  what  had 

87 


been  so  long  neglected.  New  Utrecht  had  an  armed  camp  of  its  own. 
When  another  English  invasion  threatened  in  1812,  the  people  of  New 
Utrecht  worked  on  Brooklyn  fortifications  as  well  as  their  own.  They 
had  also  a  New  Utrecht  Company  in  the  Long  Island  64th  Regiment. 
This  was  officered  by  Capt.  William  Denyse,  Lieutenant  Barcaloo, 
Lieutenant  Van  Hise  and  Ensign  Suydam.  Another  Militia  Com- 
pany was  formed  under  Capt.  J.  T.  Bergen.  New  Utrecht  did  its 
full  share  of  soldierly  duty;  the  names  of  many  of  its  citizens  are 
upon  the  muster  rolls  for  this  period. 

"NARROWS"   BECOMES   FORT   HAMILTON. 

In  1808,  the  Governor  of  New  York  had  obtained  an  appropriation 
of  $100,000  for  the  fortification  of  the  city,  and  was  therewith  appointed 
to  superintend  and  push  the  construction  of  these  defenses.  Land 
was  ceded  the  Government  by  New  York  City  in  May,  1814,  and  a 
structure  was  erected  soon  after,  and  named  Fort  Hamilton,  in  honor 
of  Alexander  Hamilton.  Thus  the  settlement  of  Narrows  became 
known  as  Fort  Hamilton. 

During  the  war  of  1812,  a  rock  off  Denys's  Ferry  and  known  as 
"Hendrick's  Reef,"  was  chosen  as  a  site  for  another  Fort.  It  was 
called  Fort  Diamond  because  of  its  shape.  Its  construction  began 
1812,  with  completion  during  1822. 

The  War  Department,  Washington,  D.  C.,  has  this  to  officially 
say  of  Fort  Diamond,  "The  name  was  changed  to  Fort  Lafayette, 
March  25,  1823,  in  commemoration  of  the  highly  distinguished  ser- 
vices of  Major  General  Lafayette  in  the  War  of  American  Inde- 
pendence." 

The  old  Fort  at 
the  Narrows,  named 
Fort  Hamilton,  was  a 
very  modest  structure. 
Ground  was  broken  for« 
the  present  Fort,  April 
26,  1825,  by  Capt. 

Blaney,  of  the  United 

Oi  .         .  Fort  Lafayette — 1860 

States       Engineering 

Corps,  with  Major  Gaston  A.  DeRussey  and  Generals  Mansfield  and 
Talcott  as  additional  constructing  engineers.  General  Bernard,  the  French 
engineer,  was  also  identified  with  the  construction.  The  local  superin- 
tendent of  the  work  was  Mr.  James  W.  Cropsey,  who  to-day  has  many 
descendants  in  New  Utrecht.  Mr.  Cornelius  Woglum  of  Staten  Island 

88 


was  Paymaster  and  Assistant  and  in  honor  of  faithful  service,  Congress 
afterward  exempted  him  from  all  land  taxes  and  jury  duty.  The  Fort 
was  completed  July,  1831,  and  ready  for  occupancy.  The  lands  upon 
which  the  Fort  stands  were  formally  ceded  to  the  United  States,  Novem- 
ber 27,  1824.  Changes  were  made  from  time  to  time  and  the  original  tract 
increased,  until  the  Government  owned  about  ninety-six  acres  of  land  in 
the  town  in  1891.  The  Fort  is  built  of  gray  granite  quadrangular  in  form, 
and  possesses  two  facings,  one  for  water  defense  and  the  other  for  land. 
Dry  ditches  surrounded  it,  and  a  redout  200  yards  in  advance  of  the 
land  side  was  supposed  to  prevent  the  landing  of  the  enemy  on  the 
beach  between  the  Fort  and  Bath. 

The  old  entrance  to  the 
Fort  on  the  shore  road  was 
one  of  the  handsome  and 
massive  features  of  the 
place.  All  now  left  of 
this  entrance  are  two  great 
posts  peering  out  from  the 
embankment.  In  place  of 
the  iron  gates  and  massive 
stones  a  steep  flight  of 
wooden  stairs  descended  to 
the  roadway. 

In  1843,  tne  Channel 
side  of  the  Fort  mounted 
fourteen  casements  and 
twenty-six  barbettes,  thirty- 
two  pounders  and  thirty- 


Entrance  to  Fort,  1840 
Col.  Loomis  L.  Langdon,  when 


two  casement  guns  of  large  calibre. 

stationed  at  Fort  Hamilton,  had  with  him  Surgeon  Ezra  Woodruff, 

Assistant  Surgeon 
Robert  B.  Benham, 
Major  John  Egan, 
Regimental  and  Post 
Adjutant  Henry  L. 
Harris,  Regimental 
and  Post  Quarter- 
master Joseph  S. 
Oyster,  Capt.  E.  Van 
A.  Andruss,  Capt. 
John  W.  Dillenback, 


The  Narrows  and  Forts — 1850 


Capt.  Richard  G.  Shaw,  First  Lieut.  William  P.  Van  Ness,  First  Lieut. 
Clermont  L.  Best,  Jr.,  First  Lieut.  John  T.  Honeycutt,  First  Lieut. 

89 


Frederick  Marsh,  First  Lieut.  David  Price,  Second  Lieut.  George  W. 
Burr,  Second  Lieutenant  Skerrett. 

The  War  Department  of  the  United  States  has  no  compiled  list  of 
commanding  officers  who  have  been  stationed  at  Fort  Hamilton.  Those 
in  command  since  Colonel  Langdon's  time  were :  Col.  John  R.  Williams, 
Lieut.  Col.  W.  H.  Ludlow,  Maj.  Hermann  Schumm,  Capt.  Albert  Jen- 
kins, Capt.  F.  W.  Phisterer,  Capt.  Stephen  H.  Mould  (since  March  8, 
1911). 

COL.  LOOMIS  L.  LANGDON,  U.  S.  A. 

This  officer,  stationed  at  Fort  Hamilton  a  considerable  while,  had 
much  in  connection  with  history,  as  part  of  his  home  and  a  personal 
sketch  is  therefore  quite  fitting.  He  was  a  very  active  man,  in  service 
and  out  of  it.  His  home  was  a  treasure  land  of  relics.  Loomis  L. 
Langdon  was  born  in  New  York.  He  was  graduated  from  West  Point, 
July,  1854.  During  the  Civil  War  he  was  stationed  at  Fort  Pickens, 
Fla.,  becoming  Colonel  of  the  First  Regiment  of  U.  S.  Artillery,  1889. 
He  had  with  him  at  Fort  Hamilton  Batteries  A,  G,  I  and  K.  His  men 
always  held  him  in  highest  esteem,  but  he  was  known  as  a  strict  dis- 
ciplinarian. Great  pride  was  taken  in  his  relics,  which  had  been  gathered 
during  his  years  of  service  in  the  army.  In  his  Library  was  a  flagstaff, 
carried  through  the  war.  Another,  still  more  sacred  keepsake  was  the 
thumb-greased,  worn  little  Bible.  The  margins  of  its  leaves  were  filled 
with  fine  penciled  words,  written  by  Langdon  as  record  of  battle  field 
deaths,  last  words  of  the  dying,  burial  incidents  and  dates,  also  names 
of  the  dead  and  dying,  as  the  case  might  be.  Entries  were  made  in  the 
Bible  of  yellow  fever  scourge  incidents  where  he  was  stationed.  Scores 
of  burial  services  have  been  read  by  him.  He  never  failed  to  keep  an 
accurate  account  of  name,  date,  location  of  grave,  etc.  These  entries 
were  often  hurriedly  made  in  the  little  pocket  Bible  he  treasured  with  his 
very  life.  No  money  could  ever  have  purchased  the  book  from  Colonel 
Langdon.  Many  an  aching  heart  in  far  away  lands  has  been  relieved 
by  hearing  the  loved  one's  last  words,  or  learning  the  spot  of  burial, 
death,  etc.  Colonel  Langdon  frequently  had  requests  for  data  from  that 
little  holy  volume  and  he  always  obliged  whenever  possible.  While 
Captain  of  the  25th  Signal  Corps,  April  3,  1865,  he  cut  off  a  tassel 
from  the  canopy  over  the  chair  of  Alexander  R.  Stevens,  President  of 
Richmond  Senate.  An  apparently  ugly  looking  stone  was  in  reality  a 
piece  of  a  Federal  shell,  fired  during  bombardment  of  Fort  Barrancas, 
autumn  of  1861,  which  shell  nearly  killed  young  Langdon.  One  book 
had  a  complete  record  of  every  shell  and  cannon  fired  under  his  own 
orders.  He  traced  out  every  shell  havoc. 

Another  old  Shakespearian  book  contained  a  memorandum  of  the 

90 


Dunlap  House,  on  the  road  between  Richmond  and  Petersburg,  where, 
April  14,  1865,  it  was  abandoned  as  a  headquarters  by  General  Buauregard 
and  his  forces.  On  a  large  pasteboard  are  glued  two  small  fragments 
of  flags  carried  by  the  45th  and  5Oth  Regiments  in  the  battle  of  Water- 
loo. Victor  Hugo  says  there  was  only  one  flag,  but  Colonel  Langdon 
has  asserted,  positively,  there  were  two. 

A  relic,  framed  and  hanging  in  the  parlor,  was  a  piece  of  a  chart 
found  on  the  body  of  Explorer  George  W.  DeLong,  Lieut.-Com.,  U.  S. 
N.,  who  died  October  30,  1881,  in  icy  lands  and  a  sufferer.  It  was  found 
by  the  Melville  expedition,  March  25,  1882. 

The  Colonel  had  numbers  of  large  certificates  with  very  valuable 
signatures  of  Presidents,  Vice-Presidents,  cabinet  officers  and  army  and 
navy  officers,  back  to  Lincoln's  days.  Some  handsome  pictures  of  olden 
times  adorned  his  walls.  A  curious  one  was  that  of  Joseph  II  and  his 
court,  as  printed  in  Mobile  during  the  Rebellion.  There  was  a  Spanish 
brick  from  Fort  Aronado,  Santa  Rosa  Islands,  and  numberless  other 
relics. 


RESIDENTS  AT  FORT  HAMILTON  AND  VICINITY   (1890), 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  Blankley 

Henry  E.  Bowns 

John  Dickinson 
Capt.  and  Mrs.  Shaw 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adrian   Stillwell 
Mrs.  L.  Van  Cleef 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  Thorne 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  H.  White 

B.  B.  Baptiste 
"      Francis   Baptiste 

Barry 

Frederick  Beers 
Capt.  and  Mrs.  Benham 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Chas.  C.  Bennett 

Clarence  Bennett 

J.  H.  Bergen 

Dr.  and  Mrs.  George  H.  Berne 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  De  Laguel  Berrier 
Mr.  Francis  Berrier 
Mrs.  Margaret  Berrier 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alphonso  Berry 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  James  J.   Blanchard 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Bligh 
Miss  M.  Blakeley 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Wm.  Bell 

G.  Beierlein 

Gen.  and  Mrs.  R.  Ayres 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  Austin 
Carl  Aukam 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Ahrberg 

Henry  Adler 
Otto  Adams 
Ph.  Brady 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  E.  Bressette 

John  Clarence 


Miss  M.  Cooper 

Wm.  Clarke 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  DeGroff 

M.  Gates 

Mrs.  George  S.  Gelston 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Enright 

Robt.   Emmons 
L.  S.  Hardin 
John  Graves 
A.  A.  Lake 
Jos.  Lake 
Mrs.  Margaret  Fryatt 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Furey 

Thomas  Henry 
Thomas  Lombard 
Henry  Martin 
Wm.  Malloy 
Love 

Geo.  Hurst 
Watson  Gifford 
Thos.  Costigan 
John  Hunt 
Capt.  and  Mrs.  E.  J.  Seiders 
Henry    Pengel 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Napier 
"       "        "      George  Stillwell 

Adrian  M.  Stillwell 
"       "        "      John  Robinson 
"       "        "      E.  W.  Roxby 
"       "        "      Savage 

"      Albert  Ehret 
"       "        "      August  Miller 
"       "        "      Walter  Despard 
"       "        "      Henry  Carson 
"       "        "      Wm.  B.  Brown 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Kennedy 
"       "        "     Joseph  Stadler 

Neil  Poulson 
Mrs.  Loughman 
Mrs.  Jane  Clark 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  I.  H.  DeGroff 
John  Burns 
Wm.  Bullock 
Simpson 

Chauncey  R.  Slater 
Richard  Slater 
Lieut,  and  Mrs.  Crolius 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  August  Damm 
Mrs.  Thomas  Shannon 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robt.  H.  Clarke 
Mrs.  Walter  Pengel 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Sidney  Noon 
"       "       "      M.  S.  Cook 
"       "        "      Folsom 
"       "        "      Jos.  Taylor 
Frank  Stillwell 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Henry  Stillwell 
"       "        "      Isaac  H.  Stillwell 
"       "        "      E.  J.  Deraismer 

S.  Holmes  Van  Brunt 
Cornelius  Van  Brunt 
Mrs.  Carl  Neilson 
Miss  Elizabeth  Rice 
Rev.  John  Tansey 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  P.  Costello 
"       "        "      August  Johansson 
"       "        "      Katz 

David  Lennox 
Bryan  McSweeney 
Chas.  A.  Norton 
"       "        "      Henry  Clair 
Mrs.  T.  T.  Church 
Charles  W.  Church 
Robert  H.  Clapp 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Charles  A.  Sykes 
Walter  F.  Sykes 
Francis  Hopkins 
Mrs.  Juilette  Hopkins 
Sarah  E.  Hopkins 
Thornton  Hopkins 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  Grummett 
R.  D.  Hegeman 
Miss  M.  Goodwin 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Constantine  Tasso 

"      M.  Walsh 
Mrs.  Richard  Van  Pelt 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  Van  Pelt 

Joseph  Marrew 
Mrs.  Dors  Maxwell 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  Huott 
Miss  Ella  Keegan 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  F.  Mayo 
Miss  Cora  Mayo 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Donnelly 

John  Otten 
James  Parker 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  P.  Moore 
"      Frank  Mittnight 
"       "        "      H.  B.  Johnson 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Edward  Lunzner 
Wm.  Mitchell 
Wm.  Moran 
"       "        "      Pape 

F.  Schule 
Jacob  Schule 
Walter  Emmons 
Wm.  Muller 
"      Julius  Magnus 
P.  Coyle 
Chas.  Seaver 
"      James  Dillon 

M.  J.  McKnight 
Mrs.  Ella  Huskinson 
Col.  and  Mrs.  A.  W.  Johnson 
Owen  McNally 
"       "        "      William  Smith 
"       "        "      Thomas  Drury 

"      Chas.  Mehl 
Mrs.  Arthur  Leclarcq 
Mrs.   Maghan 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  Hartman 

Frederick  Hastings 
Charles  Grazer 
Edward  Grazer 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  John  McGlynn 

Domenico  Fusara 
Chas.  J.  Doyle 
Miss  M.  A.  McGlynn 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adam  Kratzer 
Charles   Losee 
James  Harvey 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Nathan  Harvey 
Philip  Huck 
Wm.  Kunster 
John  Goff 
Daniel  Mitchell 
William  Gorden 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Thos.  Swan 

A.  C.  Thorning 
Mrs.  Laviania  Van  Cleaf 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  Watson 
Lieut,  and  Mrs.  Harris 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  H.  Hegeman 
Mrs.  Mary  McBride 
Miss  Annie  Flynn 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Otto  Haas 

Robert   Weber 
"       "        "      Tierney 

"      Robert  F.  Hatfield 

Wm.  Keegen 
James   Keegan 
Col.  and  Mrs.  L.  L.  Langdon 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  M.  Monahan 
P.  N.  Tofte 

Lieut,  and  Mrs.  Van  Andrews 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Westaway 
Philip  Brady 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lawrence  Carroll 

Conway 

James  B.  White 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Youngstrom 

Peter  Byrnes 
"      A.  Carthy 


Mrs.  Edward  Cavell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Peter  McNally 

Charles  Hassler 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  James  Donnelly 

James  B.  Wynne 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  C.  White 
James  Wigley 
Nathan  Hines 
John  Monahan 
T.  J.  Burton 


W.  H 


Connolly 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Meyers 

William  Kenny 
John  A.  Kruse 

M.  L.  Maxwell 


Mr.  and  Mrs.  Dempsey 

Katzenberger 

John  Hook 

Philip  Hunckel 

M.  Feeney 

P.  McNaughton 

Wilcox 

P.  Burke 

James  P.  Connell 

Philip  Connell 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Jacob  F.  Whitteman 

Mrs.  Maria  Kelly 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Max  Holzer 
Adam  Kropf 

Adrian  Stilwell 


GOWANUS— NEW  UTRECHT. 

Although  the  settlement  called  "Gowanes ;"  "Gouwanes ;"  Gowanus 
(the  latter  spelling  being  used  to-day),  has  no  material  effect  upon  New 
Utrecht  as  a  settlement,  yet  the  two  villages  were  so  identified  with  each 
other  as  to  necessitate  a  brief  but  complete  sketch  of  Gowanus.  The 
families  of  the  one  were  intermarried  with  the  families  of  the  other,  to 
say  nothing  of  New  Utrecht  descendants  settling  at  Gowanus  and  vice 
versa.  The  two  settlements  or  villages  were  entirely  separate.  The 
first  house  erected  at  Gowanus  was  the  first  house  in  Brooklyn.  Wall- 
abought  had  the  second  house  built  and  a  third  house  was  erected  mid- 
way between  these  two  settlements.  This  third  became  the  starting  of 
Breucklen  village,  or  Brooklyn  as  it  was  later  named,  for  Breucklen  in 
Holland.  It  signifies  marsh,  or  brook-land,  which  the  lands  all  around 
the  settlements  were  at  that  time.  Of  Gowanus  it  is  recorded  that  during 
1636,  William  Adriance  (Bennet)  and  Jaques  Bentyn  purchased  from 
the  Indians  about  930  acres,  located  between  the  present  2/th  and  28th 
Streets.  Settlers  there  chose  low  land,  on  the  Cove.  Dense  woodlands 
rose  to  the  rear,  where  the  present  Greenwood  locality  exists.  William 
Adriance  (Bennet)  and  Jaques  Bentyn  appear  to  have  been  joint 
owners  and  promoters  of  the  Indian  land  transactions,  but  later  on 
Bentyn  signed  release  papers  and  Bennet  became  sole  owner.  A  stone 
house  was  erected  on  the  land  soon  after  its  purchase  in  1636.  This  was 
the  first  house  built  in  Brooklyn.  Joris  J.  de  Rapalje,  who  settled  at 
the  Wallabought,  built  himself  a  home  there,  1637,  it  being  the  second 
house.  Between  these  widely  separated  settlements  a  third  house  was 
built  and  the  locality  called  Breucklen.  It  was  from  this  midway  or 
central  point  that  the  present  city  of  Brooklyn  first  started,  when  the 
City  Hall  position  was  practically  a  country  lane,  extending  beyond  the 
Ferry  to  Manhatans. 

Gowanus  had  a  second  settler  in  Thomas  Bescher,  who,  November 
28,  1639,  acquired  land  next  to  Bennet's.  Then  came  Frederick  Lub- 


93 


bertsen,  May  27,  1640,  on  the  Northerly  side  of  Gowanus  Cove.  A 
patent  was  granted  to  Cornells  Lambertse  (Cool),  April  5,  1642,  for  land 
between  present  ist  and  27th  Streets.  The  stone  house  built  by  William 
Adriance  (Bennet)  was  on  present  3d  Avenue,  near  26th  Street.  It 
was  burned  during  1643  (Governor  Kieft's  administration  and  Indian 

warfare),  but  the  stones 
were  used  to  build  a  second 
house  on  the  same  site. 
This  second  house  became, 
later  on,  the  Schermerhorn 
property  and  is  where  the 
prominent  Mrs.  William  As- 
tor  was  born,  she  being  a 
Schermerhorn. 

The  Wynant  Bennet 
house  (sometimes  designa- 
ted as  the  oldest  house), 
was  on  present  3d  Avenue 
and  27th  Street,  the  next 
house  being  that  of  Simon 
and  Peter  Schermerhorn, 


William   Adriance    Bennet   House    (Later 

Schermerhorn)    (1645)    (Mrs.    Wm. 

Astor  was  born  here) 


built  by  Bennet's  before  1695  (Stiles  His.,  Vol.  I,  Page  138). 

The  house  of  Stephen  Hendrickson  was  near  3Oth  Street.    The  next 
farm  was  on  the  West  side  of  the  old  road,  that  of  Garret  Bergen,  re- 


— *^ — ~  _  

Garret  Bergen  Homestead  (Gowanus),  (Rear  of  house  turned 
into  a  front,  due  to  3d  Avenue  improvements') 

built  about  1800  after  its  then  owner,  Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen,  occupied  it. 
He  was  father  of  Garret.  It  was  Garret  who  was  called  "Squire."  His 
sons  were:  Tunis  G.,  Peter  G.,  John  G.,  Garret  G.,  a  daughter  who 


94 


married  Tunis  S.  Barkaloo.  Of  these  children  it  was  Tunis  G.  who  be- 
came the  "Honorable"  of  New  Utrecht  history  and  fame.  It  should  be 
also  remarked  that  in  picturing  the  old  Bergen  homestead  the  present- 
day  public  never  knew  that  its  original  frontage  was  on  the  old  road, 
not  3d  Avenue,  and  so  the  original  back  of  the  house  became  the  front, 
3d  Avenue  being  so  remodeled  and  fenced  that  nobody  understood 
the  difference.  Only  history  does. 

Following  the  line  toward  New  Utrecht,  the  next  house  was  that 
of  John  Cropsey,  near  the  Easterly  corner  of  Gowanus  Road  and 
Martense  Lane  (35th  Street,  between  3d  and  4th  Avenues).  Next  came 
Gysbert  Bogart,  then  Abraham  Bennet,  deceased,  his  widow,  Catherine, 
residing  there.  Near  the  house  of  Abraham  was  that  of  his  brother, 
Anthony  Bennet.  The  Simon  Bergen  homestead  was  next  and  near  this 
was  a  small  frame  schoolhouse.  There  is  so  much  to  be  related  of  the 
old  "de  Hart"  house  that  a  brief  sketch  of  this  very  beautiful  homestead 
of  long  ago  is  scarcely  enough  to  do  it  justice. 


Garret  Bergen  Homestead  (Front  view — popularly  believed  to  be  the  rear) 

Simon  Aertson  d'Hart  emigrated  1664.  He  married  Geertje  Cor- 
nelissen  and  settled  at  Gowanus.  Upon  her  death  he  married  the  widow 
of  William  Huycken  of  Gowanus,  June,  1691.  Their  home  was  in  the 
vicinity  of  27th  Street,  toward  the  New  Utrecht  line.  Two  houses  were 
on  this  tract  of  land ;  one  known  as  the  Schermerhorn  and  another  which 
was  west  of  the  first  meadow.  This  was  from  a  portion  of  a  tract  of 
930  acres  bought  by  William  Adriance  (Bennet)  and  Jaques  Bentyn 
from  the  Indians,  1636.  The  land  later  passed  into  Bergen  ownership, 
Simon  Bergen  marrying  deHart's  daughter. 

The  homes  of  both  d'Hart  and  Simon  Bergen  were  on  the  westerly 
side  of  the  road,  Bergen's  being  on  a.  hillside  above  deHart's.  Some 
excellent  prints  are  in  existence  of  the  houses.  There  was  the  Dele- 
plaine  house,  noted  for  its  finely  equipped  interior  decorations  which 
included  marble  halls,  frescoes,  carvings,  etc.  Gowanus  had  some 
splendid  "show"  places  those  long  ago  days.  Following  these  homes 
came  a  small  house  on  the  Shore  or  Bay  (near  43d  St.)  that  of  John 
S.  Bergen,  a  brother  of  Simon.  Next  was  the  home  of  Wynant  Van 

95 


Pelt,  between  47th  and  48th  Streets,  following  which  came  the  home 
of  Henry  Van  Pelt  as  well  as  that  of  Tunis  Van  Pelt.  Both  these 
were  by  the  Bay  or  present  47th  Street.  A  house  near  48th  Street 
was  that  of  Christopher  Van  Pelt.  He  was  a  son  of  Wynant  Van 
Pelt.  Their  line  of  descent  is  naturally  from  the  New  Utrecht  general 
ancestor.  The  home  of  Peter  Bergen  was  near  5oth  Street,  then 
came  the  home  of  Michael  Bergen,  on  the  Bay  near  53d  Street.  The 
house  following  belonged  to  Theodorus  Bergen,  called  "Dorus"  and 
was  near  5ist  Street.  He  was  a  son  of  Michael  Bergen.  Still  another 
Bergen  home  was  that  of  Tunis  Bergen,  near  58th  Street  and  the 
Bay,  this  being  the  so  called  "City  Line"  for  Brooklyn.  Beyond  that 
was  Bay  Ridge,  or  as  earlier  called,  Yellow  Hook.  The  old  house 
last  mentioned  is  still  standing  close  by  the  water  and  visible  from 
Third  Avenue.  It  has  been  variously  called  an  old  Cropsey  house, 
an  unknown  relic  and  other  names,  but  in  reality  it  is  a  Bergen  home- 
stead, overlooked  in  the  rush  of  progress  because  of  its  location  by 
the  water's  edge,  as  it  were.  Between  this  and  the  present  65th  Street 
was  the  Casper  Casperse  or  Cropsy  homestead.  He  was  grandson 
of  the  emigrant.  Further  along  was  the  Harmonus  Barckaloo  or 
Barkaloo  farm,  now  owned  by  Mr.  John  McKay.  On  this  property 
still  exists  the  old  Barkaloo  family  burial  plot,  told  about  under 
separate  heading.  It  will  be  understood  the  old  Gowanus  Road  was, 
in  fact,  the  gateway  between  the  settlement  of  Breucklen  and 
Gowanus,  as  well  as  New  Utrecht,  the  Kings  Highway  of  the  Flat- 
bush  direction  being  inland  and  a  direct  means  of  travel  from  the 
Ferry  to  Narrows,  in  the  Najack  land,  now  called  Fort  Hamilton. 
The  Gowanus  Road  was  established  about  1704,  ran  South  toward 
the  present  Fifth  Avenue,  to  near  Sixth  Street,  then  went  South- 
westerly toward  present  Third  Avenue,  by  Middle  Street,  and  thence 
merged  into  a  road  leading  to  Yellow  Hook.  The  old  Porte  Road 
was  above  the  Gowanus  locality.  Red  Hook  Lane,  of  which  Brook- 
lyn still  has  a  tiny  portion  left,  was  a  connection  between  the  Road 
toward  Gowanus.  Scattered  along  the  Gowanus  Road  were  home- 
steads whose  owners  have  passed  into  history  of  that  locality.  It 
must  have  been  a  very  picturesque  section,  with  its  creeks,  woods, 
valleys  and  hills,  sloping  from  the  wooded  lands  of  the  present  Green- 
wood down  to  the  waters  of  New  York  Bay.  On  this  ground,  more- 
over, was  fought  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  on  the  morning  of  August 
27,  1776,  when  Lord  Sterling  and  his  brave  Maryland  troops  made  a 
record  for  themselves  on  the  pages  of  history. 

It  would  not  do  to  omit  reference  to  the  old  Nicholas  Vecht 
house,  built  by  that  settler  at  Gowanus,  1699.  Klaes  Arentse  (Vecht 
or  Vechten)  emigrated  from  Holland  and  settled  at  Gowanus,  1672, 

96 


building  the  stone  house  that  later  became  known  as  "The  Old  Farm" 
and  then  as  the  Cortelyou  house.  It  was  on  the  Gowanus  road,  where 
present  Third  Street  exists  and  was  a  very  attractive  and  substantial 
dwelling  house  for  that  period.  In  1846  Mr.  Louis  Grube  painted  a 
picture  of  the  old  house  from  which  painting  much  of  the  vicinity 
is  learned.  Mr.  Edward  H.  Litchfield  and  Mr.  William  R.  Force,  of 
Brooklyn,  each  have  portrayals  of  the  house.  There  are  several  other 
pictures  of  it  in  existence.  Mr.  Force  remembers  visiting  in  the 
house  when  a  boy  and  drinking  from  the  spring  that  ran  along  close 
by  the  edge  of  old  Gowanus  Road  and  near  the  Cortelyou  house,  for- 
merly the  Vecht  house.  The  Bergen  homestead  was  two  blocks 
below  (present  day  distance). 


"The  Old  Farm"  (Gowanus) 

Nicholas  Vecht,  making  his  will,  devised  the  entire  lands  to  his 
grandson,  Nicholas  Cowenhoven,  August  24,  1779.  He  signed  his 
name  "Klaes  Aren  Vecht." 

The  will  was  proved  October  4,  1779  (N.  Y.  Liber  32,  Wills,  page 
124).  It  will  thus  be  seen  that  Vecht  owned  the  old  farm  at  the  time 
of  the  Battle  of  Long  Island,  which  started  near  his  house,  moving 
upwards  to  the  heights  above,  then  backward  on  the  retreat,  when 
Lord  Sterling  and  240259  Marylanders  fought  determinedly  on  the 
ground  between  present  Fifth  and  Third  Avenues,  near  the  Vecht 
house.  It  was,  of  course,  unoccupied,  and  so  became  a  redoubt  for 
both  Continental  and  British  forces,  during  progress  of  the  Battle. 
Historian  Johnson,  whose  splendid  book  on  the  Battle  of  Long  Island 
is  an  authority,  has  declared  the  heaviest  fighting  was  on  Prospect 
Heights,  so  called  now.  The  "Sons  of  the  Revolution,"  N.  Y.  State, 
erected  a  bronze  tablet  marking  the  site  of  the  old  Cortelyou  house 
as  well  as  where  the  Maryland  troops  fell,  one  on  Fifth  Avenue  and 

7  97 


the  retreat,  with  its  sad  loss,  at  Third  Avenue.  The  "Sons"  explained 
that  the  illustration  of  the  Cortelyou  house  on  the  tablet  was  drawn 
merely  to  better  give  animation  to  the  descriptive  tribute  of  those 
fallen  Marylanders.  They  fell  some  distance  from  the  house  itself. 

NOTE— It  was  "Smallwood's  Batallion  of  680  men.  They  came  from  the 
best  families  in  Md.  Between  illness  and  previous  loss,  the  Marylanders  entered 
battle  with  450  men.  Although  without  a  Col.  or  Lieut-Col.,  the  Marylander's 
preserved  order,  &  5  times  assaulted  the  British,  of  20  times  their  strength.  The 
Marylander's  gave  their  lives  to  save  the  American  Army,  on  the  retreat.  Gen. 
Washington,  seeing  them  fall,  exclaimed,  "Good  God!  What  brave  fellows  must  I 
this  day  lose." 

The  place  had  been  called  the  "Old  Cortelyou"  farm  for  so  many 
years  that  its  history  story  was  never  rightly  told.  It  was  always 
considered  and  called  the  Isaac  Cortelyou  farm,  not  the  Jaques 
Cortelyou,  because  Isaac  lived  on  it,  although  Jaques  actually  held 
title.  Much  discussion  has  been  rife  on  this  point.  In  1779  Vecht 
willed  the  place  to  Nicholas  Cowenhoven,  a  Loyalist  during  the  1776 
war.  On  March  10,  1790,  Cowenhoven  conveyed  the  premises  to 
Jaques  Cortelyou  of  the  Narrows,  a  grandson  of  Jaques,  the  founder 


(Type  of  Revolutionary  Musket) 


of  New  Utrecht.  But  Isaac  Cortelyou  had  been  tenant  of  the  old 
farm  at  Gowanus  all  this  time.  With  him  lived  the  youth  Peter  I. 
Cortelyou,  whose  father,  Jaques,  later  on  willed  the  property  to  Peter 
I.'s  two  sons,  Jaques  and  Adrian.  It  must  be  recorded  that  while 
Jaques  of  the  Narrows  bought  the  property  from  Nicholas  Cowen- 
hoven in  1790  (who  owned  it  during  the  latter  part  of  the  1776  war, 
with  Isaac  Cortelyou  his  tenant),  it  was  not  occupied  by  a  Jaques 
Cortelyou  until  1840,  when  the  grandson  came  into  possession  of 
the  property.  All  three  of  the  Cortelyou's  were  Tories  during  the 
progress  of  the  Revolutionary  war — Jaques,  Simon,  Isaac  (per  Albany 
N.  Y.  records).  They  were  under  indictment  as  Tories.  Nicholas 
Cowenhoven  was  on  the  same  list  and  in  the  same  relation  to  Amer- 
ican Independence,  as  exemplified  by  General  Washington.  As  an 
example  of  Colonial  architecture  the  old  Vecht  house  at  Gowanus  was 
a  fine  one.  That  the  great  Battle  of  Long  Island  occurred  all  around 
it  goes  down  in  history  and  the  ground  there  is  sacred  ground  and 
should  be  preserved  as  a  memorial  for  the  city  of  Brooklyn.  The 
World  has  printed  much  of  the  history  of  the  locality,  when  historic 

98 


matters  were  not  so  favorably  considered  as  at  the  present  time  and 
so  called  attention  to  the  condition  of  that  rubbish  covered  spot.  Miss 
Georgia  Eraser's  two  books  have  also  done  much  to  help.  Her  efforts 
should  commend  themselves  to  the  public.  Two  years  ago  Mr.  Charles 
M.  Higgins  undertook  to  interest  the  City.  It  looks  as  if  a  memorial 
Park  would  be  realized  for  Mr.  Higgins,  like  the  1776  patriots,  is  a 
good  fighter.  He  means  to  have  a  Park  on  that  sacred  ground  and 
a  Park  he  will  get.  His  work  has  been  remarkable  for  beauty  of  pur- 
pose and  determination.  It  should  be  stated  that  a  condensed  abstract 
title  of  the  "old  farm"  is  furnished  by  Mr.  Edward  H.  Litchfield, 
present  owner  of  the  property  on  Fifth  Avenue,  Third  to  Fifth  Streets. 

August  24,  1779.  Nicholas  Veghte  willed  the  farm  to  his  grand- 
son, Nicholas  R.  Cowenhoven. 

March  10,  1790.  Cowenhoven  conveyed  the  property  to  Jaques 
Cortelyou. 

May  15,  1813.  Jaques  Cortelyou  willed  this  place  to  his  two 
grandsons,  Adrian  V.  and  Jaques  Cortelyou,  children  of  his  deceased 
son  Peter  I.  Cortelyou,  "who  did  live  on  said  farm."  (The  grandsons 
were  minors  at  this  time.) 

March  20,  1830.  Jaques  and  Adrian  Cortelyou  partitioned  the 
place ;  they  made  various  sales  and  conveyances  of  the  premises 
but  recovered  possession  by  foreclosures  of  mortgages.  May  i,  1851, 
Jaques  Cortelyou  conveyed  his  half  of  the  property  to  Sanford  Coley. 
November  6,  1852,  Sanford  Coley  conveyed  the  property  to  Edwin 
C.  Litchfield.  On  December  23,  1852,  Jaques  Cortelyou  quitclaimed 
his  YZ  said  property  to  Edwin  C.  Litchfield.  November  i,  1852, 
Adrian  V.  Cortelyou  conveyed  to  Edwin  C.  Litchfield  the  other  half 
of  said  property  and  on  the  same  date  he  quitclaimed  said  ^  of  said 
property  to  Edwin  C.  Litchfield,  thus  placing  the  title  of  the  whole 
"old  farm"  in  Edwin  C.  Litchfield. 

Regarding  the  will  of  Jaques  Cortelyou  it  is  here  quoted :  " to 

my  beloved  wife,  Sarah,  1-3  of  the  farm  where  we  do  dwell  at  the 
Narrows — to  the  two  grandsons,  Adrian  and  Jacques,  the  farm  whereon 
their  father  and  my  son,  Peter  I.  Cortelyou  deceased,  did  live,  situ- 
ated in  Brooklyn — to  be  equally  divided  between  them  when  Jaques 
shall  arrive  at  the  age  of  21  years.  A  legacy  to  be  paid  to  the  two 
granddaughters,  Maria  and  Phebe  Cortelyou,  of  500  pounds  each,  to 
be  paid  by  my  son,  Timothy  L.  ?  Cortelyou."  Date  May  15,  1813. 
Witnesses,  Simon  Cortelyou,  Peter  S.  Cortelyou  and  John  Rapalje. 
The  will  was  proved  December  27,  1815. 

It  will  be  noted  that  Timothy  L.  ?  Cortelyou  was  guardian  for  the 
minor  heirs,  Jaques  and  Adrian,  to  whom  the  Gowanus  farm  was 
willed  by  their  Grandfather,  Jaques  Cortelyou,  of  the  Narrows.  He 

99 


never  lived  at  Gowanus.  It  was  most  natural  that  after  Isaac  Cortel- 
you's  occupancy  of  the  Vecht  farm  with  young  Peter  I.,  that  the  father 
of  Peter  should,  later  on,  not  only  purchase  the  property  but  also 
bequeath  it  to  his  grandsons,  the  children  of  Peter  I.  Young  Adrian 
was  born  at  the  Narrows,  but  his  brother  Jaques  was  born  in  the 
old  house  at  Gowanus,  from  which  line  the  family  of  Dr.  Lawrence 
B.  Cortelyou  and  his  sister  Mrs.  Merwin  Rushmore  descend.  It  will 
be  realized  that  while  a  Jaques  Cortelyou  did  buy  the  property  in 
1790  it  was  not  the  home  of  a  Jaques  until  the  1800  period.  In  1880 
the  old  stone  house  was  fast  disappearing  until  only  the  kitchen  end 
was  left  to  tell  the  tale  of  long  ago  days.  Washington  baseball  field 
took  the  place  of  farmland.  The  trolley  and  elevated  passed  by  what 
was  formerly  the  Vecht  garden.  Old  Gowanus  Road  was  wiped  out 
of  existence  and  so  was  the  old  stone  house  of  Nicholas  Vecht,  later 
the  Cortelyou  house.  It  gradually  fell  to  pieces,  with  nobody  appa- 
rently caring  about  its  sad  fate.  Nothing  was  done  Nto  save  it. 
May  Mr.  Higgins'  good  work  prosper ! 

REFORMED  DUTCH  CHURCH  OF  NEW  UTRECHT. 

On  Thursday,  October  18,  1877,  the  church's  two  hundredth  anni- 
versary was  observed  by  aged  New  Utrecht  residents.  Rev.  David  Sutphen 
officiated  at  the  services  and  the  late  Teunis  G.  Bergen  delivered  an 
historical  address  on  the  church's  foundation  and  history.  The 

./  church  was  founded  in  October  of 
1677,  being  included  in  the  col- 
legiate system  called  the  "Dutch 
churches  of  Kings  County."  The 
minister  of  Kings  County  offici- 
ated at  all  services  held  in  Brook- 
lyn, Flatbush,  Flatlands  and  New 
Utrecht.  The  first  minister  of 
Kings  County  was  Rev.  Theo- 
dorus  Polhemus.  In  his  time 
services  were  held  in  barns  and 
woodsheds.  The  membership  was 
twenty-seven  persons.  Drums 
were  beaten  to  call  the  congre- 
gation together. 

The  second  minister  and  or- 
ganizer was  Rev.  Casparus  Van 
Zuuren,    who    also    appointed    as 
First  Dutch  Church  first    elders    Jan    Gysbertsz    and 


IOO 


Myndert  Korten.  The  first  deacons  were  Arien  Willemtsz  (or  Ben- 
nett) and  Jan  Van  Hausen  (or  Van  Nostrand).  The  first  collection 
for  the  New  Utrecht  Church  was  made  in  Flatbush  in  1677.  It  was 
19  guilders,  or  $6.40.  The  first  in  New  Utrecht  was  27  guilders  and 
seven  stuyvers.  In  1707,  530  guilders  ($212)  was  paid  for  two  com- 
munion cups,  which  are  of  quaint  silver  and  in  use  today,  though  the 
first  sacrament  was  administered  as  early  as  December  23,  1677. 
During  Van  Zuuren's  ministry  about  forty  new  members  were  added, 
comprising  twenty-eight  families,  of  whose  male  descendants  New 
Utrecht  to-day  boasts  of  the  Van  Pelts,  Van  Brunts,  Nostrands  and 
Van  Cleafs.  The  list  of  the  first  twenty-seven  members  is  a  curious 
and  interesting  one,  being  as  follows: 

Jan  Hausen  and  Marritje,  his  wife;  Myndert  Korten  and  Marie 
Praa,  his  wife;  Daniel  Vorveelen  and  Alida  Schaatz,  his  wife;  Jan 
Gysbertsz  (died),  Wellemtsz  (removed  to  Bergen),  Neeltje  (sup- 
posedly a  Denyse),  Arian  Wilbenitsy  and  Agnietje  Van  Dyck,  his 
wife;  Jan  Pietersz,  Van  Deventer  and  Marie,  his  wife;  Tryntje  Van 
Dyck,  Gysbert  Tysz  Van  Pelt  and  Jannetje  Adriaans,  his  wife; 
Adriasztje,  Joost  Du  Wien  and  Magdalena  Du  Wien,  his  wife ;  Pieter 
Veritie,  Jean  Du  Pre,  Nicolaas  Du  Pre  (removed  to  S.  I.),  Lourens 
Jansen  and  Aaltje  Gillis  (now  De  Mandeville)  his  wife,  mother  of 
Joost  Du  Wien,  Annetje  Boeguet,  Magdalen  Van  Pelt. 

The  third  minister  was  Rev.  Henricus  Selyns.  Rev.  Rudolphus 
Varick  came  from  Holland  in  June,  1685,  and  served  until  the  usurper 
Governor  Leisler  had  him  imprisoned.  Dominie  Varick  opposed 
Leisler's  usurpation  of  the  New  Netherland's  Governorship.  In 
those  days  Rev.  Selyns  proved  the  church's  savior,  preserving  its 
liberty  and  continuing  services.  During  a  minister's  absence,  services 
were  conducted  by  the  "Voor  Lezer."  This  important  and  honored 
office  was  generally  bestowed  upon  the  village  schoolmaster.  His 
duties  were  to  keep  the  church  clean  and  to  act  as  choirmaster  and 
burial  clerk,  etc.  He  read  sermons  from  a  book  called  "House 
Homilies." 

Rev.  Wilhemus  Lupardns  came  from  Holland  in  1695,  becoming 
a  minister  for  Kings  County.  A  Rev.  James  Clark  is  on  the  Brooklyn 
records  as  serving  from  1685  to  1695,  but  New  Utrecht  possesses  no 
such  records  on  its  church  books.  During  Mr.  Lupardus's  time  and 
in  1700  a  church  was  erected  for  the  first  time  since  its  organization. 
The  cost  is  shown  by  an  entry  previously  and  afterwards  made  on  the 
books.  On  October  19,  1699,  the  balance  on  hand  was  10,163  guilders, 
while  on  January  27,  1701,  the  balance  was  only  2,744  guilders,  the 
difference  being  expended  on  the  new  church.  The  bell  cost  786 

101 


guilders,  as  per  entry  in  January,  1701.  This  bell  was  placed  on  the 
present  church  at  its  erection.  The  first  edifice  was  at  the  south- 
eastern end  of  the  present  cemetery.  It  was  built  of  stone,  octagon 
in  shape,  and  had  a  steep  shingled  roof,  with  belfry,  surmounted  by 
a  gilded  rooster. 

The  road  passed  round  the  building.  Within  a  stone's  throw 
stood  the  famous  De  Sille  house,  erected  in  1658.  There  were  no 
pews  in  this  queer  little  structure,  each  worshipper  providing  a  chair. 
On  each  side  of  the  middle  aisle,  near  the  pulpit,  places  were  pro- 
vided for  forty-five  women's  chairs,  while  nearer  the  door  were 
forty-five  chairs  for  men.  The  high  dignitaries  of  the  village  and 
town,  called  "Justices,"  were  assigned  an  honored  place,  a  bench 
being  placed  on  the  right  of  the  pulpit.  A  "free"  bench  was  also 
provided.  No  fires  were  known,  and  in  winter  the  women  carried 
"warming  pans"  to  church,  placing  them  underfoot  and  at  back. 


De  Sille  House  and  First  Dutch  Church 

The  pulpit  was  extremely  high  and  shaped  like  a  goblet.  The 
minister  climbed  to  it  by  way  of  a  winding  staircase.  An  amusing 
anecdote  is  related  at  this  point.  The  good  parson  was  wont  to  be 
gesticulative  and  forgetful  of  his  great  height,  in  the  ardor  of  his 
Christian  teachings.  On  a  particular  Sabbath  he  leaned  over  far 
and  fell  headlong  into  the  lap  of  an  astonished  deacon.  He  promptly 
responded : 

"Dominie,  I  have  long  been  expecting  thee." 

Newcomers  were  charged  six  guilders  for  their  places  in  church ; 
a  funeral,  including  carrying  of  a  bier,  six  shillings.  An  interior 
church  burial  was  a  great  honor.  These  arrangements  continued  for 
many  years. 

About  1705  the  Rev.  Vincentius  Antonides  came  from  Europe 
and  was  received  by  a  portion  of  the  consistories.  There  was  much 
religious  strife  at  this  time.  Later  in  November  of  1705  the  Rev. 

1 02 


Mr.  Freeman  became  pastor  of  Kings  County  Dutch  churches.  All 
sectional  troubles  were  healed  in  1714,  and  both  Antonides  and  Free- 
man became  pastors.  Their  salary  was  £107  per  year.  Mr.  Freeman 
was  succeeded  by  the  Rev.  Johannes  Arondeus,  who  died  on  July  18, 
1741.  In  1746  the  Rev.  Ulpainus  Van  Sinderin  came  from  Holland. 
After  him  came  Rev.  Anthonius  Curtenius,  a  noted  Dutch  clergyman 
from  Schraalenburg.  He  was  well  beloved  and  died  October  19, 
1756.  In  August,  1757,  the  Rev.  Casparus  Rubel  was  called,  being 
the  colleague  of  the  Rev.  Van  Sinderin  until  1784,  and  the  close  of 
the  Revolution.  He  died  October  i,  1803. 

During  1774  pews  were  placed  in  the  church.  During  the  war 
of  1776  the  church  was  taken  possession  of  by  the  British  for  a  hos- 
pital and  arsenal.  The  interior  fittings  were  removed  and  services 
sadly  interrupted  for  a  long  time.  In  1783  it  was  repaired  at  a  cost 
of  529^  us.  i  id.,  and  thereafter  devoted  to  church  work.  Revs. 
Martinius  Schoonmaker  and  Petrus  Lowe  were  called  in  1784,  and 
after  a  few  years  the  former  left  for  Rochester,  N.  Y.  During  his 
teachings  the  English  language  was  adopted  in  the  church  as  well 
as  in  schools.  October  27,  1787,  Rev.  Petrus  Lowe  was  installed. 
John  Van  Kirk  Van  Nuyse  was  made  chorister.  His  successors  up 
to  date  have  been  Messrs.  Thos.  Hegeman,  Benjamin  Larzelere,  Mr. 
Ralph,  Peter  Bogart,  and  Andrew  Hegeman,  the  latter  since  1848. 
An  established  choir  now  renders  the  vocal  music,  with  Mr.  Van 
Sicklen  as  organist. 

Among  some  of  the  old  customs  was  placing  an  hourglass  beside 
the  good  dominie,  who,  when  the  last  sand  ran  through,  closed  his 
sermon.  Sometimes,  however,  he  would  calmly  turn  the  glass,  thus 
affording  a  longer  period  for  expounding  the  truth.  Collections  were 
taken  in  velvet  bags  attached  to  long  poles.  An  alarm  bell  was  so  ar- 
ranged inside  as  to  ring  every  time  a  coin  was  dropped  in.  This  method 
was  adopted  to  shame  those  who  contributed  nothing.  Of  course,  no 
bell  rang  when  it  passed  them,  and  the  congregation  knew  no  coin  had 
been  given. 

About  1808  separate  pastors  were  assigned  to  each  church.  After 
Rev.  Petrus  Lowe's  death,  and  in  July  of  1809,  Rev.  John  Beattie  was 
called  to  New  Utrecht.  In  1822,  a  Sabbath-school  was  organized  by 
Dr.  John  Carpenter.  He  proposed  a  new  church  edifice.  This  caused 
great  agitation. 

The  old  church  was  sacred  to  all.  Admission  was  reluctantly  made 
to  its  unsafe  condition.  Old  age  had  weakened  its  walls,  and  finally, 
after  much  hesitation  and  regretful  sorrow,  the  building  was  torn  down 
in  1828.  The  stones  were  carefully  preserved  and  dedicated  and  placed 

103 


in  the  present  edifice.  In  November,  1829, 
the  new  church  was  dedicated.  Its  con- 
structors were  John  Van  Deventer  and 
James  Cropsy.  On  March  8,  1834,  Rev. 
Beattie  resigned.  He  died  in  Lockport,  N. 
Y.,  in  1864.  In  his  time  the  membership 
had  dwindled  to  sixty-eight  members.  Rev. 
Robert  Currie  succeeded  him  in  1835,  re- 
maining thirty-one  years,  and  until  he  died 
in  March,  1866.  A  branch  chapel  was  erect- 
ed in  Fort  Hamilton,  while  a  gallery  was 
added  to  his  New  Utrecht  church. 

Rev.  David  Sutphen  came  next,  in  June, 
1867.  He  was  the  third  pastor  of  the  church 
since  its  separate  existence.  Another  chapel 
was  erected  at  Edgewood  at  a  cost  of  $6,000. 
The  Young  Men's  Christian  Association  was 
formed,  and  in  1875  an  organ  was  put  in 
at  a  cost  of  $4,700.  It  was  rededicated, 
November  7,  1875.  This  old  church  has 
sent  a  number  of  ministers  forth,  among 
Reformed  Dutch  Church— 1829  them  Rev.  Peter  Van  Pelt,  Rev.  Philip  Dur- 

yee,    Rev.    Hugh    Carpenter,    D.D.,    Rev. 
Charles  Pool,  Rev.  Charles  Wright  and  Rev.  George  Barcalow. 

In  1880  Rev.  Alfred  Hamilton  Brush  left  Nassau,  N.  Y.,  and  tie- 
came  pastor  of  the  New  Utrecht  Dutch  Church.  Dr.  Brush  was  born 
in  Guilford,  Ulster  County,  N.  Y.,  in  1841,  graduating  from  Rutgers 
College  in  1862.  His  pastorate  in  New  Utrecht  was  most  happy.  On 
June  i,  1905,  the  25th  anniversary  of  his  coming  was  celebrated,  nine 
clergymen  being  present  at  the  ceremonies  to  extend  congratulations. 
Mr.  M.  Stewart  Hegeman  of  the  Consistory,  presided;  Rev.  Charles 
Scudder,  of  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  at  Bay  Ridge,  a  branch  church, 
offered  a  prayer ;  Rev.  John  S.  Gardiner,  of  the  Flatlands  Dutch  Church, 
made  an  address.  A  handsome  loving  cup  was  presented  to  Dr.  Brush 
as  a  token  of  esteem  from  his  parishioners. 

For  the  past  two  years  his  health  was  not  the  best,  whereupon  he 
was  made  pastor  emeritus,  being  succeeded  by  Rev.  Orville  E.  Fisher, 
who  had  been  Dr.  Brush's  assistant.  Dr.  Brush  lived  with  his  son, 
Dunbar  C.  Brush,  of  Morristown,  N.  J.,  at  whose  home  he  passed  away 
on  Sunday,  April  30,  1911.  Funeral  services  were  held  at  the  old  New 
Utrecht  church  where  he  had  served  so  many  years  and  was  a  most 
impressive  service,  attended  by  the  parish  in  general. 


104 


Referring  to  the  historic  features  of  the  building,  it  should  be  told 
that  by  some  strange  fatality  lightning  frequently  strikes  the  church 
each  summer  season.  This  is  accounted  for  by  tradition,  which  has  it 
that  long  ago  some  of  the  Deacons  and  Elders  were  almost  to  a  quarrel 
point.  Soon  after  the  church  was  struck.  The  good  people  declared  it 
to  be  God's  vengeance.  August  12,  1891,  it  was  struck  while  wedding 
guests  were  assembled.  Among  old  relics  kept  is  the  gilt  dove,  given 
by  Mr.  John  Lot,  the  Dutch  Bible  by  Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen,  hour-glass 
by  Mr.  R.  Benson,  and  a  Hymn  tablet.  In  1857  a  document  tells  of  a 
church  bell,  cost,  $93.11,  which  amount  was  receipted  for  by  Charles 
W.  Church. 

The  Bay  Ridge  Reformed  Dutch  Church  was  an  offspring  from 
the  New  Utrecht  church,  as  was  also  the  little  Chapel  at  Fort  Hamilton. 

THE  OLD  VILLAGE  CEMETERY. 

Situated  on  83rd  Street  and  through  to  84th  Street,  on  what  was 
long  ago  called  Kings  Highway,  the  direct  route  to  Denys's  Ferry  and 
so  the  settlement  of  Narrows,  later  Fort  Hamilton,  stands  the  relic  of 
the  last  resting  place  of  many  of  the  earlier  settlers  of  New  Utrecht. 
There  were,  of  course,  many  interments  made  on  private  grounds,  as 
in  the  case  of  Barkaloo's,  Denyse's,  Cropsey's,  Corteljau's  and  others 
who  lived  on  the  various  large  farm  lands  of  the  Town.  In  this  way 
only  a  few  of  the  very  old  tombstones  remain  to  be  recorded  at  the 
present  time.  Some  of  the  names  and  dates  here  mentioned  (gathered 
from  the  stones  some  20  years  ago  by  the  writer),  are  no  longer  de- 
cipherable and  so  of  no  use  for  historic  purpose  to  any  who  now  at- 
tempt the  interpretation.  While  this  book  is  not  intended  to  be  a 
genealogical  volume  in  any  sense  whatever,  it  is  interesting  to  state 
what  those  long  ago  stones  tell  of  the  persons  resting  in  the  old  New 
Utrecht  Cemetery.  Some  years  ago  the  little  plot  covering  a  city  square 
was  not  well  kept,  but  all  that  has  been  altered  by  the  present-day  de- 
scendants of  those  ancestors  in  God's  acre  who  now  see  that  the  ceme- 
tery is  kept  orderly  and  a  credit  to  the  present  Reformed  Dutch  Church, 
whose  descendant  it  is  from  the  first  church  that  existed  close  by  the 
North  Eastern  corner  of  the  Cemetery,  or  near  the  then  standing 
de  Sille  homestead. 

A  Lutheran  Church  has  recently  been  built  adjoining  the  Cemetery 
property  on  this  famed  site.  Residents  feel  the  atmosphere  will  at  least 
be  of  a  proper  kind,  not  irreverent.  All  around  are  new  style  houses, 
the  poor  relics  of  long  ago  days  on  the  opposite  side  of  84th  Street 
looking  very  forlorn  in  their  damaged  condition,  due  to  street  cutting 
and  grading.  It  is  most  likely  the  Cemetery  plot  will  always  so  remain 

105 


a  relic  of  the  past  and  be  more  cherished  as  time  passes  and  the  locality 
builds  up  into  a  part  of  Brooklyn. 

One  thing  that  pleased  present-day  people  of  the  Town,  those  who 
know  the  history  of  the  first  Dutch  church,  is  that  two  real  Hollanders 
are  buried  there  and  that  during  recent  years.  It  seemed  a  pretty  piece 
of  sentiment  and  no  objection  was  made  at  the  time  of  interment. 

Following  is  the  inscription  on  these  two  graves,  the  spot  being 
marked  by  a  tall  wooden  slab,  painted  and  bearing  an  enclosed  cluster 
of  flowers  of  some  hard  metal  or  wax: 

Resting  Place 

of 

Everard  van  Maanen 
Born  in  Holland,  July  n,  1892 
Died,  Dec.  4th,  1907 

and 

Tryntje  Klein 

Born  in  Holland,  July  26,  1819 
Died,  Nov.  3rd,  1906 

One  of  the  old  stones  of  interest  is  that  of 

Jaques  Denyse,  son  of  Denyse  Denyse 
Died,  Dec.  2ist,  1791,  aged  48  years 

William  Van  Brunt 
Died,  Jan.  25th,  1790,  aged  65  years 

Adrian  Hegeman 
Died,  Oct.  2nd,  1809,  aged  75  years 

Jane  Johnson,  his  wife 
Died,  July  22nd,  1808,  aged  68  years 

Jaques  Van  , Brunt 
Died,  August,  1811,  aged  65  years 

Denys  Denys, 
Born,  April  5,  1726 
Died,  Sept.  21,  1806 

His  first  wife  is  identified  by  a  flat  stone  found  in  the  ruins  of  the 
Hamilton  House  fire,  where  the  Denyse  homestead  existed.  This 
stone  reads  "Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje — 1751."  (Supposedly  a 
door  plate  inscription.)  Teuntje  was  living  in  1781,  when  she  and 
Denyse  signed  a  deed  of  conveyance  to  John  Rapalje. 

The  second  wife  of  Denyse  Denyse  is  identified  by  her  tomb- 
stone in  the  village  cemetery  which  reads: 

106 


"Elizabeth,  wife  of 

Denys  Denys, 

Died  Feb.  i2th,  1854 

in  her  poth  year." 

The  truth  of  this  stone  was  told  the  writer  by  Rev.  Hugh  Smith 
Carpenter  during  1896,  when  the  stone  was  decipherable.  The  fact 
of  Denys  having  two  wives  has  been  disputed  by  descendants,  hence 
these  statements.  (His  will  proves  the  fact  too.) 

Not  far  from  where  the  Denyse  stones  exist  are  those  of  interest 
to  the  Fort  Hamilton  Church  family.  One  stone  reads, 

"James  C.  Church, 

Born  June  8th,  1796 

Died  March  10— 1866." 

and 

"Maria  Turnbull,  his  wife, 
born  April  1801,  died  April,  1894." 

Over  in  the  84th  Street  corner  of  the  Cemetery  stands  a  tall  gray 
stone  monument  that  perpetuates  the  memory  of  Doctor  James  E. 
Dubois  and  Doctor  John  L.  Crane,  both  men  of  New  Utrecht  who 
fell  victims  of  stern  duty.  They  have  been  declared  to  be  "worthy 
of  their  calling"  by  those  physicians  who  best  knew  them  in  actual 
duty,  while  the  grateful  Townpeople  erected  the  monument  and  had 
it  inscribed  thus: 

"James  E.  Dubois,  M.D. 

John  L.  Crane,  M.D. 

Ornaments  to  their  Profession, 

who  died  in  performance  of  their  duty, 

Sept.  I3th,  &  Sept.  i6th,  1856." 

This  was  the  year  of  the  yellow  fever  epidemic. 

The  South-eastern  corner  of  the  old  cemetery  is  the  oldest  and 
there  were  found  most  of  the  stones  that  told  of  earlier  days.  Some 
have  been  lost  by  breakage,  through  age  and  weather  conditions, 
while  others  have  simply  crumbled  away.  One  tiny  stone  inscribed 
"To  Maria  Ysabel,"  was  inscribed  in  the  Dutch  language. 

One  stone  told  of  "Jacques  Denyse,  born  1736,  or  35." 

Belinda  Antonides,  wife  of  Thomas  Hegeman,  born  1697,  died 
1770. 

Charity  Van  Pelt,  wife  of  Hendrick  Suydam,  died  1769. 

107 


Isaac  Cortelyou  died  1811.  This  is  the  Cortelyou  who  lived 
where  the  Fourth  Street  Cortelyou  house  stood  (Washington  Park 
Ball  Field  on  Fifth  Ave.).  The  wife  of  Isaac,  who  was  Altje  Rapalje, 
died  in  1814.  She  was  a  descendant  of  Sarah  de  Rapalje  of  the  Walla- 
bout. 

Among  other  stones  were  noted  "Aurt  Van  Pelt  (a  1776  patriot), 
Teunis  Suydam,  Barant  Wyckoff,  Henry  Cropsy,  Daniel  Van  Cleef ,  Chris- 
topher Stillwell,  Winant  Bennett  (whose  grandfather  built  the  first 
house  at  Gowanus  and  so  in  Breucklen).  Many  of  these  names 
represent  the  active  workers  and  founders  of  the  Reformed  Dutch 
Church  in  New  Utrecht,  the  second  erected  on  Long  Island,  the 
first  being  at  Flatbush.  This  first  membership  was  27  persons. 
It  was  in  1700  the  first  church  was  erected  where  the  present  Cemetery 
exists,  on  the  84th  Street  side.  That  is  why  the  little  spot  now 
seems  hallowed  ground  to  the  many  descendants  of  those  earlier 
settlers  in  New  Utrecht.  Except  these  stones  were  searched  some 
years  ago,  the  story  would  not  now  be  there. 

METHODIST   EPISCOPAL   CHURCH    (OF   NEW   UTRECHT 
AND   UNIONVILLE). 

The  founding  of  Methodism  in  the  Dutch  Township  of  New 
Utrecht  must  be  accounted  for  as  it  was  in  other  Dutch  communities. 
The  wave  of  spiritual  enthusiasm  and  revival  that  followed  the  teach- 
ings of  John  Wesley  appealed  to  many  residents  of  the  old  Township, 
as  elsewhere.  The  organization  of  a  Methodist  Church  naturally 
followed.  The  first  M.  E.  Church  was  organized  in  1830  and  a  build- 
ing erected  on  Conovers  Lane,  near  the  present  Sixth  Avenue.  Land 
for  the  purpose  was  donated  by  Mr.  John  Bennett.  The  following 
items  are  gathered  from  old  records  of  the  church  by  Rev.  B.  F. 
Kidder,  present  rector  (1911): 

So  far  as  it  is  known,  the  first  Methodists  to  locate  in  the  town 
of  New  Utrecht  were  Adrian  Bogart  and  his  wife  Phoebe  Bailey,  who 
came  here  about  the  year  1794.  (Their  granddaughter,  Mrs.  Lavinia 
Van  Clief,  93  years  of  age,  lives  at  the  corner  of  Fourth  Avenue  and 
99th  Street,  and  is  a  member  of  the  church.)  About  the  year  1822 
regular  preaching  services  began  to  be  held  at  the  home  of  the 
Bogart's,  corner  Ninth  Avenue  and  59th  Street,  and  continued  for  a 
number  of  years,  when  a  regular  Society  was  organized.  Mrs.  Van 
Clief  tells  that  the  year  of  the  organization  of  the  Society  was  1830. 
On  March  24,  1831,  the  Sunday  School  was  organized,  under  the 
pastorate  of  the  Rev.  J.  Luckey,  Adrian  Bogart  being  President  of 
the  meeting  and  Chris.  C.  Bennett,  Secretary.  John  D.  Benum  was 

1 08 


elected  Superintendent.  The  first  preachers  to  supply  the  Charge 
were  Revs.  Lefevre,  Raymond,  Noah  Levings  and  J.  Luckey.  For 
a  number  of  years  the  pulpit  was  supplied  by  Local  Preachers,  among 
those  who  rendered  the  most  efficient  service  being  the  Revs.  Jas. 
Sweeney  and  Joseph  Weyland,  the  Hon.  C.  C.  Leigh,  the  Hon.  Mr. 
Tiernan,  and  Mayor  of  the  City  of  New  York,  W.  W.  Henshaw,  and 
Timothy  Young,  who  afterward  became  a  member  of  the  Conference. 
Then  followed: 


Rev.  Nauscoyne,  1843 
Lorenzo  D.  Nickerson,  1844-5 
Edward  O.  Bates,  1846-7 
James  D.  Bouton,  1848-9 
James  McBride,  1850 
Benjamin  Redford,  1851-2 
Edward  K.  Fanning,  1853-4 
John  F.  Booth,  1855-6 
Richard  Wake,  1857-8 
Ezra  A.  Miner,  1859-60 
Robert  Roberts,  1861-63 
Henry  C.  Glover,  1864-65 
Wm.  H.  Russell,  1866-67 


Lorenzo  D.  Nickerson,  1868-69 
Nicholas  Orchard,  1870-72 
Samuel  A.  Seaman,  1873-75 
Alexander  McAllister,  1876-78 
Henry  C.  Glover,  1879-81 
Wm.  H.  Russell,  1882-83 
Leroy  S.  Stowe,  1884-85 
Wm.  Jeffries,  1886-88 
John  Pilkington,  1889-93 
Charles  W.  Lyon,  1894-97 
Wm.  L.  Davison,  1898-03 
George  Adams,  1904-08 
B.  F.  Kidder,  1909 


The  first  church  edifice  was  erected  in  1830,  on  the  corner  of 
Sixth  Avenue  and  67th  Street.  It  was  built  on  land  donated  by  John 
Benham,  Esq.,  a  prominent  layman  of  the  church  and  one  of  the 
first  trustees.  The  building  was  of  wood,  25  feet  front  and  40  feet 
deep.  One  main  aisle  ran  through  the  center  of  the  church ;  and,  as 
you  entered,  the  women  sat  on  the  right  and  the  men  on  the  left. 
A  large  wood  stove  was  placed  midway  of  the  room,  on  the  women's 
side.  At  first  the  church  was  lighted  by  candles,  and  later  by  lamps 
filled  with  whale  oil.  The  building  was  destroyed  by  fire  on  June  6, 
1848.  Three  boys  from  Brooklyn,  wandering  about,  broke  into  the 
church  and  set  fire  to  it.  Two  of  them  served  terms  in  the  State's 
prison  for  the  offence. 

The  second  church  edifice  was  situated  on  Stewart  Avenue,  at 
the  intersection  of  Sixth  Avenue  and  76th  Street.  It  was  built  of 
wood,  30  by  45  feet  deep.  The  land  was  donated  by  Simon  Denyse, 
Esq.,  and  the  regular  services  of  the  church  were  held  at  the  home  of 
Mr.  De  Nyse,  78th  Street,  between  Sixth  and  Seventh  Avenues,  dur- 
ing the  erection  of  the  building.  It  was  ready  for  occupancy  and  was 
duly  dedicated  before  the  close  of  1849. 

The  third  church  building  was  erected  in  1875,  under  the  pastor- 


109 


ate  of  the  Rev.  Samuel  A.  Seaman.  Land  was  purchased  from  Mr. 
Parsons,  or  the  Ovington  Co.  The  building  was  of  wood,  32  by  50 
feet  deep.  Its  value  was  about  $8,000.  The  edifice  was  called  "Grace 
M.  E.  Church."  A  pretty  homestead  on  Ovington  was  the  parsonage. 
The  church  was  corner  of  Fourth  and  Ovington  Avenues.  Later 
the  building  was  removed  to  the  west  side  of  the  lot,  to  make  room 
for  the  beautiful  stone  structure,  the  present  home  of  the  Society, 
which  was  built  during  the  pastorate  of  the  Rev.  Wm.  L.  Davison 
and  dedicated  June  10,  1900. 

The  Society  is  in  a  very  prosperous  condition,  having  grown  from 
small  beginnings  to  a  membership  of  between  500  and  600  and  a 
Sunday  School  numbering  between  800  and  900. 

The  little  Methodist  Church  at  "Unionville,"  which  was  a  sepa- 
rate building  yet  under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Bay  Ridge  church,, 
had  the  same  Ministers.  This  edifice  was  built  in  1844  and  was 
called  "Fisherman's  Church,"  being  located  where  the  land  was  low. 
A  fine  beach  made  fishing  one  of  the  sources  of  income  for  many  of 
the  residents  of  that  part  of  New  Utrecht,  just  as  the  Narrows  had 
fishing  for  its  profit  and  business.  Many  small  cottages  of  the  fisher- 
men were  on  or  near  the  beach.  And  so  the  name  of  the  little  church 
at  Unionville.  It  was  dedicated  by  Rev.  Henry  Chace.  The  Trustees,. 
in  1844-5,  were:  Garret  Wyckoff,  Stephen  Maus,  Oscar  D.  Way, 
Cornelis  Cozine,  Edmund  Morris. 

The  Trustees  for  the  Bay  Ridge  M.  E.  Church  were :  Jacob  J, 
Moore,  Henry  Duryea,  Adrian  B.  Denyse,  at  this  time.  Rev.  H.  C. 
Glover  was  then  in  the  pulpit. 

The  Methodist  Church  of  the  Township  grew  with  the  progress 
of  the  locality  all  around  it.  Many  of  its  earlier  workers,  the  Moore's,. 
Denyse's,  Duryea's,  Bennett's  and  others  lending  strong  hands  and 
heart  to  the  church  cause  with  a  result  that  steady  increase  in  mem- 
bership and  sound  foundation  has  marked  the  Methodists  of  New 
Utrecht.  A  fourth  church  building  was  erected,  1900  period. 

ST.  JOHN'S   CHURCH,  FORT   HAMILTON. 

This  is  the  little  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  whose  history  tells 
of  military  life  within  its  sacred  walls.  Memories  cling  around  it  in 
a  different  way  from  that  of  the  old  Dutch  churches  of  the  various 
Long  Island  settlements.  When  this  church  was  built  there  were 
only  two  others  in  all  Kings  County — St.  John's  and  St.  Ann's  of 
Brooklyn.  Fort  Hamilton  had  the  third  Episcopal  Church.  The 
corner  stone  was  laid  March  24,  1835,  and  the  building  was  com- 
pleted July  16,  of  the  same  year. 

no 


St.   John's  Church,  Fort  Hamilton,  N.    Y.—i835 


St.  John's  first 
rector  was  Rev.  J. 

D.  Carder,  then  came 
Rev.  Sylvanus  Nash, 
1845  J    RCV-    Michael 
Scofield,   1847;  Rev- 
Joseph  Ransom,  1861 ; 
Rev.  W.  H.  D.  Gran- 
nis,  1867 ;  Rev.  Henry 

E.  Hovey,  1869;  Rev. 
Robt.  Snowden,  1874; 
Rev.  F.  D.  Hoskins. 

Following  the 
Mexican  War  the 
First  Artillery  was 
assigned  to  Fort 
Hamilton  in  1848,  and 


with  it  came  Major  Thomas  J.  Jackson.  He  was  then  barely  30  years 
old  and  had  not  yet  won  the  title  of  "Stonewall,"  which  title  was 
fittingly  bestowed  on  a  brave  soldier.  It  appears  that  Major  Jackson 
was  of  a  very  serious,  religious  mind  and  never 
allowed  any  pleasure  or  even  duty  to  interfere 
with  his  attendance  at  the  house  of  God.  He  was 
baptized  at  St.  John's  Church  on  Sunday,  April 
29,  1849,  by  Rev.  M.  Scofield  the  rector.  The 
sponsors  were  Colonel  Dimick  and  Colonel  Taylor, 
both  of  the  United  States  army.  The  baptismal 
font  was  of  Italian  marble  with  a  pedestal  of 
sandstone.  It  always  occupied  a  place  of  honor 
in  the  church  building,  because  of  its  association 
with  Major  Jackson's  christening.  Record  has 
it  that  an  error  was  made  in  putting  "Jefferson" 
on  the  church  book,  because  Major  Jackson  was 
christened  Thomas  Jonathan  Jackson,  not  Jeffer- 
son as  the  registry  would  show  it  to  have  been. 
His  widow,  who  visited  Fort  Hamilton,  declared 
Jonathan  to  be  correct,  and  Mr.  Francis  Hopkins, 
a  life  long  resident  of  the  Fort,  explained  it  the 
same  way  to  the  writer. 

Major  Jackson  was  always  considered  a  very  Bapfigmal  Font>  Where 
brilliant  but  eccentric  man.    He  left  many  recol-       Stonewall  Jackson 
lections  of  an  unusual  character,  so  that  when  it         Was  Christened 


in 


was  later  told  how  he  never  entered  battle  without  first  a  prayer,  that 
statement  was  both  understood  and  believed. 

At  Fort  Hamilton  he  was  an  earnest  churchman.  He  was  also 
known  to  be  a  great  pedestrian,  and  each  day  might  be  seen  walking 
along  the  streets  of  the  village  brandishing  a  big  cane  as  he  did 
in  sword  drill.  Friends  gave  him  safe  margin  in  space  at  such  times. 
He  was  known  to  be  particular  of  his  food  and  once,  at  a  splendid 
military  reception  at  Governor's  Island,  Major  Jackson  carried  over 
his  own  refreshments.  Despite  these  eccentricities  he  was  greatly 
beloved  by  all  who  knew  him. 

Another  illus- 
trious soldier  who 
attended  little  St. 
John's  Church  and 
who  served  as  ves- 
tryman, was  Capt. 
Robert  E.  Lee,  of 
Virginia.  He  was 
about  36  years  old 
at  the  time  and  sta- 


St.  John's  Church — /poo 


tioned  at  Fort  Hamilton  with  his  troop.    The  Sears  family  were  next 
door  neighbors  to  the  Lee  family,  the  latter  residing  in  a  frame  house 

on  Fourth  Avenue,  origi- 
nally but  two  stories 
high,  but  now  made  a 
story  higher  and  used  as 
a  summer  garden.  In 
1847  Captain  Lee  was 
ordered  to  another  post 
and  with  his  family  bade 
farewell  to  Fort  Hamil- 
ton. His  departure  was 
deeply  regretted,  for  he 
had  quite  won  the  hearts 
of  the  townspeople  by 


Capt. 


Robert  E.   Lee  Home    (Fort  Hamilton) 
(Altered,  1890,  into  garden  front) 


his  uniform  courtesy  and 
lovable  disposition,  "a 
true  gentleman  and  sol- 
dier," is  the  Fort  Hamilton  verdict  of  its  memories  of  Capt.  Robert 
E.  Lee.  During  the  Civil  War,  when  his  son  Wm.  Fitzhugh  Lee  was 
confined  a  prisoner  in  Fort  Lafayette,  friends  did  all  in  their  power 
to  extend  courtesies  and  comforts  to  the  prisoner  of  war.  During 


112 


the  South's  great  tribute  to  its  departed  hero,  Stonewall  Jackson, 
during  1891,  when  his  bronze  statue  at  Lexington,  Va.,  was  unveiled, 
and  during  its  loving  memory  of  the  Robert  E.  Lee  whom  all 
mourned  as  his  life  statue  was  placed  in  the  Museum  at  Richmond, 
Va.,  it  was  to  a  little  frame  church  at  Fort  Hamilton,  New  York 
Harbor,  that  many  thoughts  went  instinctively.  Both  illustrious 
soldiers  had  left  their  imprint  also  there. 

St.  John's  Church  property,  located  on  Clark  Street  and  Fort 
Hamilton  Avenue,  was  part  of  the  original  Denyse  estate  and  can 
never  be  used  for  other  than  church  edifice  purposes.  Following 
is  a  copy  of  the  deed: 

"This  Indenture,  made  the  twenty  second  day  of  March  in  the 
year  of  our  Lord  one  thousand  and  eight  hundred  and  thirty  five 
Between  Hugh  Smith  of  the  city  of  New  York  Minister  of  the  gospel 
and  Eleanor  L.  his  wife,  John  Carpenter  of  the  County  of  Kings 
Physician,  and  Margaret  his  wife,  James  P.  F.  Clarke  of  the  County 
of  Orange  Minister  of  the  Gospel  and  Jane  his  wife,  and  Jane  Ann 
Smith  of  the  city  of  New  York  single  woman  of  the  first  part,  and 
the  Rector,  church  warden  and  vestry  men  of  St.  John's  church, 
Fort  Hamilton  Long  Island  of  the  second  part  Witnesseth,  that  the 
said  parties  of  the  first  part  for  and  in  consideration  of  the  sum  of 
one  dollar  lawful  money  of  the  United  States  of  America  to  them  in 
hand  paid  by  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part,  at  or  before  the 
ensealing  and  delivery  of  these  presents  the  receipt  whereof  is  hereby 
acknowledged,  have  granted,  bargained,  sold,  aliened,  remised,  re- 
leased, conveyed,  and  confirmed  and  by  these  presents  do  grant, 
bargain,  sell,  alien,  remise,  release,  convey,  and  confirm  unto  the  said 
parties  of  the  second  part  and  to  their  successors  forever,  All  that 
certain  Lot  of  ground,  situate,  in  the  town  of  New  Utrecht,  County 
of  Kings  and  state  of  New  York  and  is  known  and  described  on  a 
Map  Made  by  Sidney  C.  Herbert  dated  in  October,  1834,  and  filed  in 
the  corner  of  Clarke  Street  and  Smith  Avenue  and  extending  in  front 
on  said  Clarke  Street  one  hundred  and  twenty-five  feet,  and  on  Smith 
Avenue  one  hundred  feet  as  the  same  is  located  and  described  on  the 
said  Map  being  the  Map  of  the  Property  of  the  Heirs  of  Jane  Smith 
deceased, — situated  at  the  place  aforesaid.  Together  with  all  and 
singular  the  tenements,  hereditaments,  and  appertenances  thereunto 
belonging  or  in  any  wise  appertaining  and  the  reversion  and  rever- 
sions, remainder  and  remainders,  rents,  issues,  and  profits  thereof. 
And  also  all  the  estate,  right  title,  interest,  dowers  and  rights  of 

8  113 


dower,  property  possessions,  claim  and  demand  whatsoever  as  well 
in  law  as  in  Equity  of  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  of,  in,  or  to 
the  above  described  premises  and  every  part  and  parcel  thereof  with 
the  appertenances :  To  Have  and  To  Hold  the  above  granted  and 
described  with  the  appertenances  unto  the  said  parties  of  the  second 
part  and  their  Successors  to  their  own  use  and  behoof  for  ever; — 
for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  for 
the  support  and  Maintenance  of  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Ministry  in 
said  church:  and  if  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  or  their  Suc- 
cessors shall  cease  to  use,  occupy,  and  possess  said  premises  for  the 
uses  and  purposes  aforesaid,  then  the  said  premises  shall  rest  in  the 
Bishop  of  the  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  in  the  Diocese  of  New 
York  and  his  successors  forever  in  trust  that  the  same  shall  be  held 
for  the  uses  and  purposes  of  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Church  and  for 
the  support  and  Maintenance  of  a  Protestant  Episcopal  Ministry  for 
ever. 

And  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  for  themselves,  their  heirs 
Executors  and  administrators  do  hereby  covenant,  promise,  and  agree 
to  and  with  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  and  their  successors, 
the  above  mentioned  and  described  premises  in  the  quiet  and  peace- 
able possession  of  the  said  parties  of  the  second  part  and  their  suc- 
cessors against  the  said  parties  of  the  first  part  and  their  heirs  and 
against  all  and  every  person  and  persons  whomsoever  lawfully  claim- 
ing or  to  claim  the  same  will  Warrant  and  by  these  presents  for  ever 
Defend. 

In  Witness  whereof  the  said  parties  of  the  first  have  hereunto 
set  their  hands  and  seals  the  day  and  year  first  above  written. 

HUGH  SMITH. 
ELEANOR  L.  SMITH. 
JANE  ANN  SMITH. 
JOHN  CARPENTER. 
MARGARET  CARPENTER. 
JAMES  P.  F.  CLARKE. 
JANE  CLARKE. 

Sealed  and  Delivered  in  presence  of 
HUGH  SMITH  Jr. 

Deed  of  Conveyance  witnessed  by 

TUNIS  G.  BERGEN. 
HENRY  C.  MURPHY. 

March  22d,  1835. 

114 


CHRIST  CHURCH  (BAY  RIDGE). 


With  the  scattered  farmlands  of  Yellow  Hook  giving  way  to 
development,  as  brought  about  by  the  Ovington  Co.,  and  fine  homes 
being  erected  along  the  Shore  Road  as  well  as  inland,  the  Bay  Ridge 
district  naturally  decided  upon  having  a  church  of  its  own.  The 
Dutch  Reformed  creed  did  not  appeal  to  the  new  comers,  many  of 
whom  were  Episcopalians.  About  1852  a  meeting  of  citizens  was 
held,  when  it  was  decided  to  build  a  church.  It  was  declared  a  branch 
of  the  Fort  Hamilton  church,  erected  in  1835.  The  Methodists  were 
established  during  1831-2. 

Christ  Church  was 
accordingly  built,  the 
first  service  being  held 
May  22d,  1853,  Rev. 
Henry  Bartow  offici- 
ating. On  June  3d, 
1853,  a  meeting  was 
held  in  the  new  build- 
ing for  the  purpose  of 
incorporating  and  elect- 
ing a  Vestry.  This 
election  resulted  as 
follows  :  Wardens  — 
Joseph  A.  Perry  and 
John  B.  Kitching.  The 
Vestrymen  were  :  Theo- 
dore Sedgwick,  Daniel 
Richards,  Benjamin  C. 
Townsend,  David  C.  Winslow,  William  C.  Langley,  Joseph  Dunder- 
dale,  George  Fletcher,  James  Weir.  Nearly  every  Vestryman  served 
continuously  or  until  his  death  or  removal  from  the  Parish.  Mr. 
Perry  died  August  26,  1881,  and  was  mourned  by  many  friends.  A 
tablet  erected  to  his  memory  was  later  placed  in  the  second  church 
building.  Mr.  Weir  died  in  1891.  During  1868  the  church  was 
enlarged  to  almost  double  its  original  size  and  likewise  much  im- 
proved in  appearance.  Its  location  was  on  the  present  Third  Avenue, 
near  "City  Line"  or  65th  Street  —  in  reality  at  the  present  68th  Street. 
In  1877  a  Sunday  School  building  was  erected  adjacent  to  the  church. 
The  Rectory  was  burned  July  5,  1873,  but  was  rebuilt.  The  lawns 
surrounding  this  property  was  much  admired,  great  trees  lending 
shade  and  picturesqueness  to  the  scene. 


Christ  Church,  Bay  Ridge — 1853 


The  pretty  church 
building  was  the  central 
point  for  several  gay  and 
important  weddings.  On 
Thursday,  June  19,  1890, 
the  marriage  of  Miss  Eva 
Bliss,  daughter  of  Mr.  E. 
W.  Bliss  to  Mr.  James 
Warren  Lane,  of  New 
York,  took  place,  bringing 
a  notable  assemblage  with- 
in the  walls  of  the  church 
edifice.  Nearly  three 
thousand  invitations  were 
issued  for  the  event,  but 
only  a  few  hundred  were 
admitted  to  the  ceremony, 
at  which  Right  Rev. 
Bishop  Potter  officiated. 
The  Bliss  family  resided 
at  the  home  owned  by  its 
former  occupant,  Hon. 
Henry  C.  Murphy,  at  what  he  called  "Owls  Head." 

Two  years  later  another  wedding  occurred  in  the  same  little  frame 
church  building,  when  Miss  Jeanie  Pratt  Andruss,  daughter  of  Captain 
and  Mrs.  E.  VanArsdale  Andruss,  of  the  Garrison  at  Fort  Hamilton, 
was  married  to  Lieut.  Oscar  Straub,  U.  S.  A.,  of  Fort  Monroe,  Va.  This 
was  June  9,  1892.  It  was  a  Military  wedding  in  all  that  the  word  implies. 
Never  before  had  Christ  Church  held  such  a  brilliant  and  gold  laced 
throng.  The  First  Artillery  had  had  no  wedding  in  its  ranks  for  many 
years  and  the  occasion  was  made  a  record  breaker.  John  Lind,  the 
happy  Bandmaster,  decided  a  church  organ  too  ordinary  for  a  Garri- 
son bride,  so  he  and  his  full  Regimental  Band  took  possession  of  the 
organ  loft  and  rendered  the  wedding  music.  The  Quartermasters  and 
other  Departments  had  arranged  the  decorations,  which  were  very 
beautiful  and  interspersed  with  American  flags.  About  all  the  Gen- 
erals, Colonels,  Captains  and  Lieutenants  in  the  Army,  stationed  near 
New  York,  were  present  as  guests.  Rev.  Bishop  Faulkner  officiated. 
Noting  pictures  of  the  pretty  little  building  one  would  scarcely  imagine 
how  much  of  its  history  related  to  important  wedding  parties.  Not 
of  the  olden  days  and  Dutch  life  but  of  the  days  when  Bay  Ridge  was 

116 


Christ  Church— 1890 


the  center  of  beautiful  homes  and  a  social  life  that  has  all  been 
swallowed  up  in  city  development. 

About  1904  it  became  evident  that  the  church  could  not  longer 
remain  in  the  original  locality,  due  to  elevated  road  encroachments 
and  trolley  tracks.  A  third  and  entirely  new  building  and  locality 
was  decided  upon.  A  plot  of  land  was  purchased  on  Second  Avenue, 
from  73d  to  74th  Streets,  where  the  present  church  was  built,  designed 
by  Cram,  Goodhue  &  Ferguson,  the  architects.  The  corner  stone 
was  laid  on  All  Saints  Day,  1908,  and  on  Trinity  Sunday,  1909,  which 
was  also  the  56th  anniversary  of  the  founding  of  the  parish,  the  Holy 
Communion  was  celebrated  in  the  unfinished  building.  September, 
1909,  the  church  was  opened  for  divine  service,  Right  Rev.  Bishop 
Frederick  Burgess  then  officiating. 

It  was  a  fortunate  happening  that  the  old  church  building  was 
sold  and  not  destroyed,  the  Lutheran  Congregation  of  the  Church  of 
the  Good  Shepherd  purchasing  it  and  removing  the  whole  edifice  to 
new  quarters  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  Avenue  and  75th  Street.  This 
congregation  repaired  and  renovated  the  former  Episcopal  edifice 
and  have  accomplished  excellent  results  with  it.  It  was  likewise  a 
matter  of  general  pleasure  that  the  former  Episcopal  Church  was  not 
destroyed. 

The  Rectors  of  Christ  Church  have  been: 

Rev.  H.  S.  Bartow,  1853-54;  Rev.  Theodore  Irving,  1855-57;  RCV- 
H.  B.  Hubbard,  1857-59;  Rev.  Uriah  B.  Tracy,  1859-64;  Rev.  John  A. 
Aspinwall,  1864-85;  Rev.  J.  H.  Ranger,  1886-88;  Rev.  W.  Hamilton 
Morgan,  1888-1891 ;  Rev.  Bishop  Faulkner,  1891 — (still  incumbent, 
1911). 

CORTELJAU— CORTELYOU. 

There  has  not  been  much  variation  in  recording  this  name. 
Little  confusion  has  resulted.  There  were  three  Jacques's  in  New 
Utrecht  at  one  period,  resulting  in  many  wrongly  conceived  press 
articles,  book  items,  histories,  etc.  This  has  been  satsfactorily  probed 
and  settled.  Documents  prove  every  statement  made.  The  story 
of  the  life  and  work  of  Jacques  Corteljau,  emigrant  and  "Promoter/' 
would  fill  a  volume  by  itself.  It  is  only  possible  to  confine  that  story 
t!o  a  brief  Chapter. 

Jaques  Corteljau  emigrated  from  Utrecht,  Holland,  about  1652. 
He  was  a  noted  Surveyor,  of  French  education  and  name.  Being 
conversant  with  the  French,  Spanish,  Dutch  and  English  languages, 
as  well  as  of  scientific  ability  and  profession,  his  post  in  the  New 
Netherlands  was  an  important  one.  Mr.  Cornelius  Van  Woerckhoven, 
with  whom  he  was  in  close  personal  and  business  relation  (being 

117 


also  tutor  to  Van  Woerckhoven's  son)  had  means  and  influence  at 
his  command.  Mr.  Corteljau,  without  means,  but  with  splendid 
educational  advantages,  became  Agent  and  assistant  to  Van  Woerck- 
hoven  in  planning  the  Colony  of  New  Utrecht.  Van  Woerckhoven's 
name  was  used  as  negotiating  with  the  Indians  for  their  Najack  lands, 
as  it  was  with  the  West  India  Company  business  matters.  The  two 
men,  emigrating  from  Utrecht,  worked  together  for  one  purpose. 
Van  Woerckhoven's  unexpected  death  (soon  after  he  returned  to 
Holland  to  secure  his  Colonists  for  Najack  lands)  resulted  in  halting 
plans.  Corteljau  had  no  choice  but  to  continue  the  work,  which  he 
very  naturally  did.  He  applied  to  the  proper  Authorities  of  Holland 
and  New  Netherlands  for  permission,  also  land  grants,  to  establish 
what  Van  Woerckhoven  had  contemplated.  The  Authorities  had  high- 
est respect  for  Mr.  Corteljau  and  his  abilities,  giving  full  permission  to 
g>o  ahead — upon  one  condition.  That  condition,  was  a  map  of  New 
Amsterdam.  Mr.  Corteljau  agreed,  and  soon  completed  the  desired 
map,  January  16,  1657.  It  was  the  first  made.  He  thus  received  the 
Najack  lands,  also  encouragement  to  establish  his  proposed  colony, 
which  he  did.  In  honor  of  his  birth-place  and  Van  Woerckhoven's, 
he  named  the  settlement  New  Utrecht. 

He  married  Neeltje  Van  Duyn  (sister  of  Gerrit,  whom  the  Laba- 
dists  mention,  1679).  Jaques  first  resided  at  New  Amsterdam,  but 
with  Van  Woerckhoven's  death  announced  and  the  Narrows  prop- 
erty needing  attention,  he  removed  to  the  Narrows,  building  a  log 
house  there.  It  stood  close  to  where  Colonel  Langdon's  battery  was 
located  (1893),  or  East  of  the  so-called  Simon  Cortelyou  house.  The 
log  house  being  burned,  was  replaced  by  a  good  stone  building,  on 
the  same  site.  After  Jacques  death,  about  1693,  the  stone  house  was 
demolished.  Some  of  its  stone  went  into  the  Fort,  some  into  the 
Pieter  Cortelyou  house,  built  about  1700,  known  later  as  the  Simon 
Cortelyou  house.  Jacques  Corteljau  was  represented  at  the  Hem- 
stead  Assembly,  1665,  also  Balthazar  Vosch,  Jr.  Jacques  owned  and 
occupied  the  Najack  or  Nyack  tract  of  land,  receiving  a  Patent  from 
Governor  Stuyvesant,  August  27,  1657;  from  Governor  Nicolls, 
August,  1668 ;  from  Governor  Dongon,  May  13,  1686,  which  later  was 
made  out  for  the  Town  of  New  Utrecht. 

As  an  expert  Surveyor,  Corteljau  was  called  upon  for  various 
important  duties.  A  map  of  Schaenectede  (Schenectady)  was  his 
work,  done  by  special  appointment.  1685  he  was  Justice  of  the  Peace. 
His  land  transactions  were  on  a  larger  scale,  with  a  colonization  plan 
for  Raritan  lands  (New  Jersey)  but  which  he  finally  abandoned  as 
too  remote.  His  energies  were  thus  devoted  to  New  Utrecht  alone. 
In  the  Labadists  journey  to  his  home,  1679,  much  is  related  about  him, 

118 


all  most  complimentary.  That  he  was  unable  to  entertain  his  guests 
in  his  house,  but  put  them  to  sleep  overnight  in  the  barn,  was  due 
to  his  two  sons  being  ill  with  small  pox,  then  prevalent.  With  knowl- 
edge of  medicine,  Jacques  practically  established  a  quarantine,  while 
yet  treating  his  visitors  with  utmost  civility  and  care.  His  own 
son  also  slept  in  the  barn — the  other  two  lay  critically  ill.  He  and 
his  wife  were  distracted,  but  hospitable  as  possible  under  the  circum- 
stances. About  1693  Jacques  Corteljau  died,  leaving  children  as 
follows : 

Jaques,  born  1662?,  Pieter,  born  1664,  Cornelis,  born ,  Helena, 

born  ,  Maria,  born  ,  Willem,  born  .  These  Cortelyou 

histories  are  very  important  to  New  Utrecht.  Matters  have  been 
sadly  mixed  in  accounting  for  various  happenings,  houses,  etc.,  by 
the  Narrows.  It  is,  therefore,  wise  to  give  the  various  family  lines 
of  descent  from  above  named  children  of  Jacques  Cortelyou,  founder 
of  New  Utrecht. 

Jaques  (son  of  1652  settler),  born  1662?;  died  May  3,  1731.  Mar- 
ried October  4,  1685,  Marratie  Hendricks  Smack,  who  died  1705. 
Married  2nd,  Aeltje  Boerum,  who  died  1732.  He  owned  part  of  his 
father's  land  in  New  Utrecht,  where  he  took  oath  of  allegiance  1687. 
He  was  Captain  of  a  Militia  Company,  1693.  Made  a  will  dated 
March  4,  1726.  Issue: 

Altje,  Geertje,  Helena,  Jaques  (born  Sept.  26,  1697,  died  young). 

*  Jaques,  born  Sept.  25,  1707. 

Neeltje,  Marya. 

Hendrick,  born  1711,  Mar.  Antie  Voorhis,  Mar.  2nd,  Catherine. 
Lived  in  N.  J. 

Jaques  (born  1707,  died  1765).  Mar.  Marretje  Hendrick  of  N.  J. 
Built  house  and  resided  where  Jaques  Cropsey  later  owned  (later 
William  Cropsey).  Issue: 

Jacques,  born  1730;  died  1747. 

Altie,  born  1733,  Mar.  Rutgert  Van  Brunt,  a  "Colonel"  in  Militia. 

Isaac,  born  1736;  died  1811. 

Antie,  born ;  died .    Mar.  R.  Stilwell. 

Isaac  Cortelyou  (born  1736;  died  1811).  Mar.  Altie  Rapalje,  wid. 
John  Lott.  Issue: 

Jacques,  born  1768;  died  1824.     Single. 

Angelic,  born  1770;  died  1826.    Mar.  G.  L.  Martense. 

*John,  born  1772;  died  1855. 

Martha,  born  1767;  died  1850.    Single. 

Aletta,  born  1769;  died .    Mar.  A.  O.  Blemis. 

Isaac,  born  1774;  died  1839.    Single. 

Daniel,  born  1777;  died  1823.     Single. 

119 


Hendrick,  born   1779;  died  .     Single.     Heired  his  father's 

property  about  1815.  Sold  to  J.  C.  Freeke,  1825,  then  1828  to  Jacques 
W.  Cropsey  to  Wm.  Post  to  J.  D.  Brown. 

NOTE — Built  house,  4  rooms,  by  Narrows;  rented  property  Aug.  13,  1793.  Also 
owned  property  and  house  foot  Bennett's  Lane,  at  Father's  death,  1765.  Latter  es- 
tate went  to  Daniel,  1811-12.  Former  bought  by  J.  W.  Cropsey.  Isaac  leased  the 
"Old  Farm"  at  Gowanus  and  resided  there,  with  the  youth  Peter  T.  Cortelyou,  later 
father  to  Adrian  and  Jacques,  owners  of  the  farm  at  Gowanus,  1840. 

*John  Cortelyou  (born  1772;  died  1855).  Mar.  Catherine  Lefferts. 
Issue: 

Peter  L.,  born ;  died  young. 

Aletta,  born  1801 ;  died  1827.    Single. 

*Isaac,  of  Flatbush,  born  1797;  died  1845.  Mar.  Sarah,  dau. 
Timothy  T.  Issue: 

Peter  L.,  born  1829.    Mar.  Jane  Bergen. 

Ann,  born  1829.     Mar.  H.  G.  Onderdonk. 

Isaac,  born  1832;  died  1841. 

Sarah  T.,  born  1834.    Mar.  G.  T.  Bergen. 

Jacob  L.,  born  1836.     Mar.  Adeline  Brower. 

John,  . 

Catherine,  . 

Timothy  T.,  . 

The  children  of  Jaques  Corteljau,  emigrant  of  1652,  will  be  taken 
in  order  of  size  of  descent  line.  This  is  regardless  of  birth  order. 
It  is  done  to  accommodate  the  Pieter  branch,  which  is  both  large 
and  important  to  New  Utrecht  and  Gowanus  history. 

Cornelis  (son  Jaques,  1652  emigrant),  born ;  died  about  1690. 

He  mar.  Neeltje  Volckerse,  who  mar.  2nd,  Johannes  VanderGrif. 
Cornelis  took  oath  of  allegiance  as  native  of  N.  U.,  1687.  Issue: 
Annetje,  who  mar.  Isaac  Luqueer.  (If  others,  not  know.) 

Helena  (dau.  Jaques,  1652  emigrant),  born ;  died  1726.  Mar. 

ist,  Nicholas  Van  Brunt;  mar.  2nd,  Denyse  Denyse;  mar.  3d,  Hendrick 
Hendrickson,  all  of  New  Utrecht.  Record  of  Helena  is  found  in 
Denyse  and  Van  Brunt  histories. 

Maria  (dau.  Jaques,  1652  emigrant),  born ;  died .  Mar. 

Willem  Barkaloo.  See  Barkaloo  history. 

Willem  (son  Jaques,  1652,  emigrant),  born ;  died .  Took 

oath  of  allegiance  as  N.  U.  citizen,  1687.  No  further  trace. 

Pieter  (son  of  Jaques,  1652  emigrant),  born  1664;  died  April  10, 
1757.  Mar.  prior  to  Nov.  1694,  Diewertje,  or  Deborah  DeWitt.  He 
was  a  Surveyor.  Owned  part  of  his  father's  land.  Took  oath  of 
allegiance,  1687.  Purchased  land  in  Somerset  Co.,  N.  J.,  1710.  Is 
mentioned  in  various  land  transactions.  The  branch  of  Pieter  is 

120 


given  carefully;  his  descendants  are  identified  with  Gowanus  history, 
over  which  there  has  been  much  argument.  Especially  is  this  true 
of  the  "Old  Farm"  owned  by  Nicholas  Vecht  first  and  later  by  the 
Cortelyou  family.  Pieter  and  Deborah  had  9  children  (he  built  the 
so-called  Simon  Cortelyou  house,  about  1700  and  resided  there). 

Neeltje,  born  Nov.  15,  1694;  died  young. 

*Jaques,  born  about  1698;  died  Oct.  10,  1757. 

Peter,  born  Sept.  25,  1699;  died  1764.  (Mar.  Feb.  24,  1720,  Neeltj 
Van  Pelt.) 

Cornelis,  born  Aug.  17,  1701 ;  died .  Settled  on  S.  I. ;  had  3 

sons:  Cornelis,  died  1781,  mar.  Sarah  Sprague;  Aaron,  of  S.  L,  died 
1789;  Peter. 

Helena,  born  Sept.  21,  1703. 

William,  born  Sept.  27,  1705. 

Maria,  born  Aug.  10,  1707;  died  young. 

Deborah,  born  Nov.  20,  1711. 

Neeltje,  born  March  20,  1712.  Mar.,  Sept.  29,  1745,  Barent 
Johnson. 

The  father  signed  his  name  to  documents,  "Pieter  Corteljau." 

*Jacques,  born  1698;  died  Oct.  10,  1757.  Mar.,  April  25,  1718, 
Jacominte  Van  Pelt.  He  was  a  farmer  of  N.  U.  He  had  an  Uncle 
Jaques  Corteljau  (son  of  emigrant).  He  also  had  a  Cousin  Jaques 
Corteljau.  There  were  thus  three  Jaques's  in  N.  U.  at  one  time.  Each 
had  a  different  farm  and  each  a  different  house.  Issue  of  Jacques  and 
Jacominte  were : 

Deborah,  born  1720.    Mar.  Dirck  Bergen  of  Gowanus. 

*Peter,  born  Oct.  3,  1722;  died  1777. 

Nelthe,  born  March  6,  1726. 

*Peter,  born  Oct.  3,  1722;  died  ,  1777.  Mar.  Angeneitje 

(Agnes)  de  Hart.  Issue :  Jaques  and  Simon.  It  was  from  these  two 
branches  that  so  much  of  the  history  of  the  Cortelyou  family  arises. 
The  Simon  branch  will  be  taken  first,  for  convenience  of  type. 

Simon  Cortelyou,  born  1746;  died  1828.  Mar.,  1763,  Sarah  Van 
Wyck  (died  1816) ;  mar.  2nd  (1817),  Maria  Bogart,  wid.  Jaques 
Barkaloo.  Issue : 

Peter  S.,  born  ;  died  .  Mar.  Elizabeth  .  Issue: 

Simon  (who  mar.  Lemuian  Vandervere),  Peter,  John  and  others. 

Jane. 

Simon  and  wife  Sarah,  had  a  daughter  Jane,  who  married 
secretly  a  Hessian  officer  by  name  Conrad.  Their  child  mar.  John 
Cornell,  and  had  a  dau.  who  became  parent  to  the  dau.  who  was 
later  on,  Mrs.  Middleton.  (Mrs.  Merwin  Rushmore,  477  Washington 
Ave.,  Brooklyn,  has  this  record  in  letter  form.)  The  Simon  Cortelyou 

121 


house  by  the  Narrows  was  the  scene  of  this  sad  romance  of  Jane 
Cortelyou.  It  has  been  often  related  as  an  "elopement,"  which  fact 
the  Cortelyou  family  have  disproved  by  records.  It  was  John  Conrad, 
the  Hessian  officer,  who  went  to  England  to  secure  a  permit  to  leave 
the  British  Army  and  return  to  claim  his  Bride.  Simon  refused  to 
allow  his  daughter  to  even  see  the  officer  when  he  did  return ;  refused 
to  acknowledge  the  marriage;  refused  Conrad  upon  every  point.  A 
bitter  and  stormy  scene  ensued.  Jane  was  kept  a  prisoner.  Another 
story  has  it  that  Jane  was  forced  to  marry  another  man,  being  told 
her  British  officer  was  faithless.  At  any  rate,  John  Conrad  walked 
from  the  Simon  Cortelyou  house  to  the  bluff  near  by  and  there  shot 
himself,  dying  at  once.  His  tragic  death  and  the  fact  that  he  had 
been  faithful  to  her,  affected  Jane's  mind.  Her  grief  was  of  the  quiet, 
deep  sort,  it  has  been  told.  Mrs.  Rime  Stewart,  near  neighbor  of 
the  Simon  Cortelyou's,  had  the  young  officer  buried  upon  her  own 
farmland,  with  all  the  military  honor  of  his  station.  Jane  is  said  to 
have  had  the  body  removed,  later  on,  to  the  village  cemetery.  Only 
good  was  recorded  of  Conrad,  he  being  anxious  to  prove  to  Simon 
Cortelyou  that  a  Hessian  could  be  good  as  a  Dutchman.  This  is  the 
true  story  of  the  romance  by  the  Narrows.  The  Simon  Cortelyou 
homestead  was  East  of  his  brother  Jaques'  house.  It  was  originally 
the  Pieter  Cortelyou  house  (born  1664)  then  the  Jaques,  then  Peter 
(born  1722)  and  then  to  Simon,  which  latter  name  clung  to  the  old 
structure.  It  has  been  without  question,  the  most  written  of  and  the 
most  lecture  shown  house  of  any  in  New  Utrecht,  barring  the  Van 
Pelt  and  Van  Brunt  homes.  Mistakes  have  been  made  in  calling  it 
a  Jaques  and  a  Simon  home  when  in  reality  it  was  erected  by  Pieter 
Cortelyou,  about  1700.  At  this  time  the  first  home  of  Jaques  Cor- 
teljau,  emigrant  of  1652,  had  disappeared. 

To  return  to  the  line  of  descent  of  Jaques,  son  of  Pieter  and  a 
brother  of  Simon,  above  named : 

Jaques  (born  1743;  died  1815;  son  of  Peter  &  Agnes  de  Hart). 
He  mar.,  1716,  Mary  Hewlett,  who  died  1771.  Mar.  2d,  1773,  Sarah 
Townsend,  who  died  1829.  Issue: 

Peter  I,  born  1768;  died  1804.  Mar.,  1789,  Femmetje  Voorhies; 

mar.  2d,  1803,  Mary  Alstien.  Issue:  Adrian  V.,  born  ,  at  the 

Narrows;  Jaques,  born  March  I,  1796,  at  the  "Old  Farm"  at  Gowanus; 
Maria,  Phebe. 

Timothy  T.,  born  1774;  died  1829.  Mar.,  1801,  Anna  Kouwen- 
hoven  (died  1843).  Issue:  Anna  M.,  born  1812;  Sarah  T.,  born  1802, 
mar.  Isaac  Cortelyou,  son  John;  Peter;  Wm.  K. ;  Johanna;  Timothy 
T.,  born  1815,  mar.  Ann  Stilwell. 

This  closes  the  genealogical  portions  of  the  Cortelyou  family,  so 

122 


far  as  the  most  important  branches  go.  It  is  not  intended  to  be  com- 
plete, but  merely  to  straighten  out  confusion  existing  in  many  recitals 
and  printings  of  history  by  the  Narrows  and  of  the  Cortelyou's. 
Jaques  and  his  brother  Simon  had  homesteads  near  each  other.  Jaques' 
was  West  of  Simon's.  The  son  of  Jaques  (Timothy  T.)  became  next 
owner.  The  property  was  sold  to  John  Delaplaine  about  1848 ;  to  the 
Government  1862,  when  the  house  was  soon  after  demolished. 

It  was  Jaques,  father  of  Peter  I.  and  Timothy  T.,  who  bought  the 
"Old  Farm"  at  Gowanus,  originally  the  Nicholas  Vecht  farm,  then 
•the  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  property.  But  Jaques  resided  at  the 
Narrows,  in  a  house  West  of  his  brother  Simon's  house,  or  between 
Denyse  Denyse's  and  Simon's,  to  be  exact.  His  son  Peter  I.  had 
resided  at  the  Gowanus  farm  with  Isaac  Cortelyou  (see  Isaac  history). 
When  Peter  I.  married  in  1789,  his  father  bought  the  farm  from 
Cowenhoven,  1790,  and  in  1804,  when  Peter  I.  died,  the  latter's  two 
sons,  Adrian  V.  and  Jaques,  heired  the  property,  Jaques  of  the  Nar- 
rows merely  held  title.  The  Cortelyou  family  have  always  regarded 
the  Gowanus  farm  as  the  Isaac  and  the  Peter  I.  homesteads,  for  not 
until  1804  did  a  Jaques  reside  there  as  owner.  His  age  was  then 
just  eight  years. 

Perhaps  the  best  authority  on  Cortelyou  family  history  has  been 
Mr.  Peter  L.  Cortelyou,  of  77th  Street,  Bay  Ridge,  who,  October, 
1893,  told  the  writer  all  he  had  of  records,  he  being  doubly  descended 
from  Jaques,  the  founder  of  New  Utrecht.  Mr.  Cortelyou  has  since 
passed  away  but  his  histories  have  been  safely  preserved  within  these 
pages;  they  are  authentic  and  all  proved.  He  owned  a  Dutch  Bible 
248  years  old,  in  the  Holland  Dutch  language.  Mr.  Cortelyou  was 
positive  that  Governor  Stuyvesant,  of  New  Amsterdam,  sent  work- 
men down  to  the  Narrows  to  help  Jacques  Corteljau  rebuild  his  home, 
when  burned.  The  house  standing  (1893)  was  tne  Simon  Cortelyou 
house,  so  called,  the  third  Cortelyou  house  by  the  Narrows. 

Stones  from  the  second  house  (of  Jaques  the  founder)  were  used 
in  its  construction,  about  1700.  Another  Jaques  house  was  built  West 
of  Simon's  house,  later  the  Delaplaine  house.  This  statement  agrees 
with  that  made  by  Col.  William  Cropsey  as  to  location  of  Jaques 
house,  one  which  he  remembered.  It  has  been  also  stated  by  record, 
that  Nancy  Cortelyou,  who  welcomed  the  British  by  waving  her 
red  petticoat  when  she  saw  them  landing  just  below  her  home,  was 
not  a  young  girl  but  a  grown  woman.  The  Cortelyou  family  burial 
plot  was,  like  other  family  cemeteries  near  the  home.  When  Garri- 
son improvements  were  underway  some  human  bones  were  dis- 
covered and  the  find  announced,  but  nothing  remained  to  tell  a  single 
item  about  whose  bodies  the  bones  represented  and  as  the  United 

123 


States  Government  was  in  no  mood  for  halting  work  of  Defence  lines 
for  its  big  Fort,  the  little  family  cemetery  was  wiped  out  of  existence. 
Dr.  Lawrence  B.  Cortelyou,  who  in  1893  resided  at  690  loth 
Street,  Brooklyn,  authoritatively  stated  his  ancestors  to  have  been 
"Neutrals,"  not  Tories,  that  the  stone  house  at  Gowanus  was  the  Isaac 
Cortelyou  house,  not  a  Jaques  home;  that  his  father  was  born  there 
and  he  ought  to  know.  Mrs.  Merwin  Rushmore  is  his  sister.  It  was 
the  opinion  of  both  these  gentlemen  that  their  ancestral  name  was 
slowly  dying  out,  so  many  intermarriages  into  other  families  having 
been  made. 

TEUNIS  NYSSEN;  DE  NYSE;  DENYSE;  DENICE. 

This  name,  originally  French,  should  be  written  "de  Nyse."  It 
is  of  high  standing.  These  Wallons  or  French-Huguenots  were  early 
settlers  in  America,  fleeing  from  France  to  Holland  to  escape  religious 
persecution  and  so  imbued  with  Holland's  free  faith  and  ways  as  to 
be  almost  Dutch.  The  name,  like  many  other  of  the  Colonists  to 
America,  has  been  spelled  and  recorded  in  many  ways. 

Teunis  Nyssen  the  general  ancestor  of  the  family  emigrated  from 
Bunnik,  Province  of  Utrecht,  Holland,  about  1638.  He  settled  at  New 
Amsterdam,  there  marrying  Femmetje  Jans,  widow  of  Hendrick  the 
Boor  and  daughter  of  Jan  Scales  of  N.  A.  From  Manhattan  he  re- 
moved to  Gowanus,  near  the  Browers.  He  sold  land  to  Albert 
Cornelisson  May  16,  1656.  He  owned  Flatbush  land  in  1665  and  was 
a  Magistrate  of  Breucklen  1658-61.  In  1660  he  was  a  member  of 
the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  Breucklen.  In  May,  1657,  he  was 
taxed  for  Dominie  Polhemus's  support.  During  November,  1662, 
he  was  a  student  of  the  Catechism  at  the  Breucklen  Dutch  Church, 
having  become  a  member  when  Femmetje  Jans  did  (1660).  His  name 
appears  as  a  communicant  from  1677  to  1685,  when  it  is  presumed  he 
died.  His  children  were  as  follows : 

Jannetje  Nyssen,  bap.  Dec.  22,  1641.     Mar.  Jan  Hansen  Bergen. 

Marritje  Nyssen,  bap.  April  3d,  1644.  Mar.  Derick  Jans  Woert- 
man. 

Aertje  Nyssen,  bap. — No  record. 

Annetje  Nyssen,  Bap.  Feb.  i8th,  1646.  Mar.  Hieronemous  Rapal- 
je,  son  of  Joris  J.  Rapalje. 

Elsje  Nyssen,  bap.  May  loth,  1648.    Mar.  Gerret  Snedeker. 

Femmetje  Nyssen,  bap.  April  3d,  1650.  Mar.  Michael  Hansen 
Bergen  (the  settler  at  Yellow  Hook,  now  Bay  Ridge). 

Jan  Nyssen,  bap.  April  i2th,  1654.  Mar.  Cataline  Boegart.  He 
resided  at  the  Wallabout;  took  oath  of  allegiance,  1687. 

Dionys  Nyssen,  bap.  April  i2th,  1654. 

124 


There  is  mention  of  several  supposed  sons.  Cornelis,  James, 
Tunis  and  Joris,  who  settled  in  New  Jersey  and  adopted  the  surname 
of  Tunison  and  Van  Midwout — that  is,  Tunis  from  Midwout,  or 
Flatbush.  Both  these  names  are  in  New  Jersey  history,  there  being 
even  a  town  called  "Dennis,"  Cape  May  County.  There  are  also  some 
1776  soldiers  by  name  of  Dennis  and  Tunison.  But  the  connection  is 
not  proved,  and  as  it  has  no  bearing  on  the  New  Utrecht  family,  is 
not  here  included. 

The  above  named  Dionys  Nyssen,  bap.  April  I2th,  1654,  is  the 
Long  Island  ancestor.  He  married,  October  22d,  1682,  Elizabeth 
Polhemus,  daughter  of  Rev.  Theodorus  Polhemus  of  Flatbush.  His 
trade  was  that  of  master  carpenter.  He  bought  land  at  Flatbush 
in  1685-87,  where  he  resided  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  1687. 


NOTE — Simon  Cortelyou  house;  near  it  was  "Denys's  Ferry"  to  S.  I.  per  build- 
ing by  water's  edge.     Home  of  Denyse  further  west. 

A  second  marriage  is  recorded  on  March  29th,  1685  (also  stated  to 
be  August  i2th,  1685),  when  Helena  Cortelyou  married  Deonys 
Theunis.  She  was  the  daughter  of  Jacques  Cortelyou  and  widow  of 
Nicholas  Van  Brunt.  After  her  marriage  to  Dionys  Theunis  he  re- 
moved to  the  Narrows,  now  Fort  Hamilton,  where  Helena  owned 
land.  Dionys  also  owned  New  Jersey  and  Staten  Island  land 
where  he  signed  a  petition  in  1701,  relating  to  it.  He  was  assessed 
for  about  80  acres  in  New  Utrecht.  He  died  prior  to  1707.  Helena 
lived  until  1720,  marrying  Hendrick  Hendrickson  after  the  death  of 
Dionys  and  residing  at  the  Narrows. 

The  children  of  Denys  and  Helena,  adopting  the  surname  of 
"Denys"  and  "Denyse"  were: 

ist  Jaques  Denys   (L.  I.  Ancestor). 

125 


2d  Theunis  Denys,  bap.  April  24th,  1687;  died  young. 

3d  Neeltje  Denys,  bap.  Sept.  22d,  1689,  Mar.  Jacob  Vander  Bilt 
of  S.  I.  Issue :  Aris,  Denys,  Hilitje,  Jacob  &  7  others.  Last  named 
Jacob,  mar.  Mary  Sprague.  They  had  7  children,  a  son  Cornelius 
marrying  Phebe  Hand,  whose  son  Cornelius,  Jr.,  born  1794,  died  1877, 
was  the  famed  "Commodore  Vanderbilt"  of  boat  enterprises.  Thus 
originates  the  wealthy  New  York  family  of  this  name. 

4th  Tunis  Denys  (2nd),  bap.  April  2d,  1692.  Mar.  Frances  Hen- 
drickson  of  N.  J.  He  moved  to  Freehold,  N.  J.,  prior  to  1740.  Issue: 
Denise,  Daniel,  Femmetje  or  Phebe.  This  Phebe  mar.  Rev.  Benj.  Du 
Bois  of  Salem  Co.,  N.  J.,  and  had  children,  among  whom  was  a 
daughter  Catherine,  who  mar.  David  G.  Vanderveer,  son  of  Garret 
Vanderveer.  This  said  Catherine  Vanderveer  was  the  Grandmother 
of  Hon.  Garret  A.  Hobart,  Vice  President  of  the  U.  S. 

5th  Femmetje  Denys,  bap.  mar.  Gerretson  of  N.  J. 

6th  Cornelis  Denys,  bap.  April  26th,  1696. 

7th  Helena  Denys,  born  1700.  Mar.  March  9th,  1717,  Frederic 
Van  Leeuwen. 

Of  these  children  the  first  born  Jaques  Denys,  is  the  ancestor 
identified  with  New  Utrecht  history.  He  mar.  Reymeriga  (Rymie) 
Simonson.  They  resided  at  the  Narrows  in  a  stone  homestead  built 
Northwest  of  the  old  Cortelyou  house  that  in  1896  was  standing.  His 
will  dated  July  21,  1739,  and  recorded  a  few  days  later  proves  his 
death  to  have  been  near  this  date.  His  children  were : 

1.  Denys  Denys,  born  April  5th,  1726.    New  Utrecht  man  of  note. 

2.  Isaac  Denys,  born  Oct.  2d,  1728,  died  Aug.  22d,  1799.     Mar. 
Sept.,  1748,  Cornelia,  daughter  of  Elias  Hubbard.     Mar.  2d,  Seytie, 
daughter  of  John  Voorhees.    Issue  not  known.    Resided  at  Gravesend, 
Rev.  services. 

3.  Helena  Denys,  born  Oct.  27,  1732.     Mar.  Garret  Rapalye  of 
the  Wallabout.     Removed  to  New  Orleans,  La. 

4.  Antie  Denys,  bap.  Dec.  24th,  1732. 

5.  Jaques  Denys,  born  Nov.  28th,  1735 ;  died  Jan.,  28th,  1812.    Mar. 
Jacoba  Emans  or  Emmons,  born  Oct.  7,  1734;  died  Feb.  14,  1825.    She 
was  only  child  of  Jacobus  and  Jannetje  Emans  and  was  named  for 
her  father  and  called  "Coubouche."    Their  children  were:  Jaques  L., 
Jane,  (2)  De  Nyse,  James.     Of  these  Jaques  L.  Denyse  mar.  Nelly 
Johnson  and  had  n  children;  Jane,  mar.  William  Cropsey;  James,  mar. 
Jane  Cropsey;  Denyse  removed  to  S.  I. 

The  father  of  these  five  children  signed  his  name  "Jaques  Denys." 
As  the  New  Utrecht  records  tell  most  of  the  first  born,  Denys 
Denys  (born  April  5,  1726;  died  Sept.  21,  1806),  it  is  fitting  that  some- 
thing of  a  detailed  sort  be  related  of  him.    He  mar.  ist,  on  May  18, 

126 


I743>  Teuntje,  dau.  of  Rutgert  Van  Brunt  of  N.  U.  Then  he  mar. 
2d,  Elizabeth,  supposed  dau.  of  Jacob  Bennett  of  Gowanus.  The 
supposition  is  on  the  best  of  authorities,  yet  no  record  has  been  found 
of  the  Bennett  name,  only  a  family  belief.  Inscribed  on  an  old  stone 
that  ornamented  either  the  home  of  Denys  Denys  or  else  the  Hamilton 
House,  a  hotel  built  close  by  and  including  his  homestead,  was  this: 
"Denys  Denys  and  Tientintie,  Ao,  1751."  Mrs.  Geo.  Gelsten  found 
the  stone  on  her  property  about  1890.  It  establishes  the  record  of 
Teuntje  as  a  first  wife,  while  the  second  wife  is  proved  by  a  tomb- 
stone in  the  village  cemetery.  It  was  thus  inscribed,  "Elizabeth,  wife 
of  Denys  Denys,  died  Feb.  I2th,  1854,  in  her  QOth  year." 

Documents  of  land  transactions  also  prove  the  existence  of  two 
wives,  a  fact  which  some  descendants  have  disputed.  In  the  last 
will  of  Denys  he  mentions  his  wife  Elizabeth.  In  another  document 
of  previous  date,  it  is  recorded  that  he  cared  for  his  children's  financial 
interest,  his  wife  then  being  Teuntje,  mother  of  the  children  men- 
tioned therein.  Of  his  public  life,  records  tell  that  he  was  prominent, 
a  large  land  owner  and  interested  in  the  village  and  town's  welfare. 
He  was  likewise  a  1776  patriot.  King  George  had,  in  1742,  granted 
him  permission  to  run  a  ferry  across  the  Narrows  to  Staten  Island. 

Milestones  on  the 
Kings  Highway  told 
of  the  distances  from 
various  points  to 
"Denys's  Ferry."  Mr. 
Denys  was  also  a 
Deputy  to  the  Provin- 
cial Congress  of  New 
York  to  resist  British 
oppression,  April,  1775. 
In  July,  1776,  a  British 
vessel,  the  "Asia,"  was 
fired  on  by  a  small 
Long  Island  battery 
established  by  Amer- 
ican patriots  near  the 
home  of  Denys  Denys, 
when  a  volley  from 
the  British  ship  did 
considerable  damage 
to  the  houses  by  the 
Narrows.  (Stiles  &  Onderdonk's  His.  of  Kings  Co.  in  Rev.)  It  must 
always  be  a  source  of  intense  regret  that  Denys  Denys  left  no  per- 


Milestone,  for  Denys's  Ferry   (by   Townsend  C. 
Pelt  Homestead,  i8th  Avenue} 


Van 


127 


sonal  letters  or  records  of  happenings  at  about  this  period.  There 
must  have  been  an  immense  amount  of  Revolutionary  data  that  could 
so  well  have  been  recorded — persons,  incidents,  ferry,  land  and  British 
matters  of  great  importance.  But  no  record  was  kept,  since  his 
descendants  cannot  tell  of  any  such  reminders  of  the  past  Possibly 
he  was  too  active  and  engrossed  a  man  to  have  leisure  for  writing 
down  happenings  as  they  came  along.  But  how  such  writings  would 
be  valued  to-day!  There  has  never  been  any  old  homestead  to  pre- 
serve, inasmuch  as  fire  destroyed  the  Hamilton  House,  that  having 
absorbed  the  Denyse  homestead.  A  pretty  story  of  1776  days  has 
been  told  regarding  the  daughter  of  Gerrit  Denyse,  whose  daughter 
Rymeicka,  a  young  and  very  pretty  girl,  saved  a  detachment  of  the 
American  army  from  being  overtaken  by  the  British  soldiers.  Rymeicka 
heard  the  Englishmen  coming,  fully  realized  the  danger  of  the  en- 
counter with  the  Continental  men  and  heedless  of  her  own  grave 
danger  she  ran  a  long  distance,  to  warn  the  Continentals  of  the 
British  approach.  Of  this  brave  girl  it  is  only  known  that  she  later 
married  a  Mr.  John  Walker  and  removed  to  Providence,  R.  I.  So 
far  as  History  goes,  the  Denyse  branches  were  very  well  represented 
as  patriots  for  the  American  cause.  Scarcely  a  line  but  that  has 
some  1776  soldier  to  its  credit.  Like  many  other  Long  Island  and 
Staten  Island  families,  New  Jersey  records  tell  considerable,  but  it  is 
not  purposed  to  give  a  complete  genealogical  record  in  this  book  of 
merely  reminiscences.  Descendants  must  do  that  for  themselves. 
The  children  of  Denys  Denys  and  wife  Teuntje  were: 

1.  Jaques  Denys,  born  1743,  died  Dec.  24,  1791.     He  mar.  Ann 
Schenck,  dau.  of   Gerrit  and  Jannetje   Schenck  of  N.  J.    (Jannetje 
was  a  Kouwenhoven.)    Their  children  were :  Denyse  D.,  Gerrit,  John, 
William,  Jane,  Hendrick,  Tunis,  Isaac.     It  is  this  Jaques,  the  father 
of  8  children,  who  so  often  borrowed  money,  by  note.     Documents 
tell  of  the  loans  to  him.    The  reason  for  this  is  not  known. 

2.  Rutgert  Denys,  born  1746;  died  July  9,  1795 — died  unmarried. 

3.  Rhymie  Denys,  born  1749;  died  Jan.  25th,  1832.     Mar.  James 
Stewart.    He  was  in  the  British  Army.    Documents  tell  of  land  trans- 
actions between  Rymie  and  the  children  of  her  brother  Jaques., 

4.  Jane   Denys,  born    1762;  died  July   I2th,   1833.     Mar.   Hugh 
Smith,  D.D.    This  is  the  Rev.  Hugh  Smith  Carpenter,  branch  of  the 
Denyse  family.     Documents  tell  of  land  transactions  between  this 
Jane  Smith  (nee  Denys)  and  the  children  of  her  brother  Jaques.     It 
is  from  this  line  that  St.  John's  church  at  Fort  Hamilton  received  its 
land  for  the  church  built  March  24,  1835.    The  Denyse  heirs  so  gave 
the  property  that  only  a  church  can  occupy  the  ground,  under  for- 
feiture of  property.    The  Rev.  Hugh  Smith  Carpenter  and  Dr.  John 

128 


Carpenter  were  both  very  prominent  in  their  town,  being  able,  learned 
men.  Rev.  Hugh  Smith  Carpenter,  who  married  Miss  Louise  Broad- 
head  of  Milford,  Pa.,  died  March  12  or  14,  1899.  They  had  one  son 
Roswell  H.  Carpenter,  who  owns  the  original  charter-grant  from 
King  George  for  the  Ferry,  run  by  Denys  Denys,  1742. 

There  are,  of  course,  many  branches  of  the  Denyse,  De  Nyse  and 
Denice  families  throughout  New  York  State  and  two  are  known  oi 
in  Ohio.  One  is  that  of  Hon.  Sidney  Denice  Maxwell,  of  Cincinnati, 
O.,  and  the  other  is  that  of  George  L.  Denise,  of  Franklin,  O.,  who 
married,  April  9,  1839,  Louise  Bergen,  daughter  of  David  C.  Bergen 
and  wife  Nancy  Boyce.  David  was  born  January  2,  1795;  died  1834. 
He  lived  in  Kentucky.  His  daughter  Louise,  who  became  the  wife 
of  George  Denise,  had  children  as  follows : 

Ira  C.  Denise,  born  1840. 
Obediah  H.  Denise,  born  1842. 
Cornelia  A.  Denise,  born  1844. 
Charles  E.  Denise,  born  1845. 
Julia  H.  Denise,  born  1848. 
Sallie  B.  Denise,  born  1851. 
Henrietta  B.  Denise,  born  1857. 
Carrie  S.  Denise,  born  1860. 

Although  there  are  hundreds  of  descendants  of  the  common 
ancestor,  on  Long  Island  especially,  it  is  not  believed  there  is  one 
ancestral  homestead  left  in  New  Utrecht.  This  is  very  different  from 
the  Van  Brunt  family,  who  have  three  old  homesteads  to  show  for 
past  days. 

There  are  no  especial  stories  or  traditions  connected  with  the 
Denyse  family.  No  ghost,  elopement  or  wonderful  love  tale.  Except 
for  the  story  of  Rymeicka  and  her  brave  deed  in  saving  part  of  the 
American  Army  in  1776,  there  is  no  thrilling  story  to  relate  of  the 
Denys  family  as  a  whole.  Nor  have  they  a  landmark  to  show.  Only 
old  records  can  now  testify  to  their  earlier  days  in  the  Township  of 
New  Utrecht.  Present  day  records  include  descendants  as  public 
men  and  women.  There  was  always  a  strong,  marked  pride  in  a 
"Denyse,"  "De  Nyse,"  or  "Denice."  This  noticeable  trait  differed 
from  the  more  stolid  Dutch  types  found  in  New  Utrecht.  The  high- 
strung  delicacy  has  been  supposedly  traced  back  to  Courtly  service 
for  a  King  and  Queen  in  France,  before  bloodshed  followed  religious 
persecutions.  Holland  life  did  much  to  convert  this  delicate  pride 
into  practical  lines,  yet  New  Utrecht  did  not  wholly  destroy  the 
French  traits,  inborn  beyond  alteration. 

9  129 


BENNETT. 

It  might  be  said  of  this  family  that  it  resembles  somewhat  the 
tale  of  "the  old  woman  who  lived  in  the  shoe  and  had  so  many  chil- 
dren she  did  not  know  what  to  do."  To  trace  all  lines  of  genealogy 
of  the  Bennett  family  would  be  undertaking  a  book  unto  itself. 
Present  day  descendants  are  never  quite  sure  of  ancestral  branches, 
so  that  the  very  brief  guide  here  presented  is  really  only  a  basis  for 
genealogists  to  work  upon.  The  name  of  Bennett,  or  as  it  was  earlier 
written,  "Willems  or  Bennet,"  is  of  English  origin.  At  least  the 
ancestor  of  the  family  was  an  Englishman.  William  Adriaense,  a 
cooper  by  trade,  emigrated  to  the  Netherlands  prior  to  1636.  He  pur- 
chased land  at  Gowanus,  as  did  Jaques  Bentyn,  both  having  dealings 
with  the  Indians.  In  December,  1639,  William  Adriaense  purchased 
Bentyn's  share  from  him.  William  married  Mary  Badye,  widow  of 
Willem  Bredenbent.  Upon  the  death  of  William  Adriaense,  prior  to 
1644,  Mary  married  Paulus  Vanderbeck.  But  it  is  recorded  that  as 
widow  of  William  Adriaense  Bennet  she  obtained  a  land  patent  from 
Governor  Kieft,  comprising  the  farms  formerly  owned  by  Abraham 
Schermerhorn  and  Garret  Bergen,  both  of  Gowanus. 

The  children  of  William  and  Mary  were: 

Adriene  Willemse,  bap.  1639. 

Willem  Willemse. 

Christian  Willemse,  bap.  1641  in  N.  A.  (died  young). 

Sarah  Willemse,  bap.  Nov.,  1641. 

Christian  2nd,  bap.  Mch.,  1642. 

Maria  Willemse,  bap.  May,  1664. 

Of  these  children  the  second,  Willem  Willemse,  is  the  New 
Utrecht  ancestor — at  least  one  of  the  ancestors,  for  there  were  more 
than  this  one  branch  of  Bennett's  in  the  Township.  Willem  married 
April  9,  1660,  Geertje  Van  Mullen,  of  New  Amsterdam.  He  resided 
at  Gowanus  and  owned  land  acquired  by  Cornelis  W.  Bennet  and 
George  Bennett.  He  was  on  the  Brooklyn  assessment  rolls,  1675-76-83. 
Was  a  member  of  the  Dutch  Church  of  that  place  and  is  declared  to 
have  died  prior  to  1686.  Issue: 

Maria,  bap.  Nov.  loth,  1661   (mar.  Jacobus  Verhulst). 

Jan,  bap.  Jan.  7,  1663. 

Willem. 

Jacob. 

Adriene  Willemse  (son  of  the  emigrant),  bap.  1637  or  39;  mar. 
on  Dec.  3d,  1662,  Annaietje  Jans,  dau.  of  Jan  Tomasse  Van  Dyck 
of  New  Utrecht.  Ariene  settled  first  in  New  Utrecht.  He  was 
member  of  the  Dutch  church  there,  a  Deacon  in  1677;  a  constable  of 

130 


the  settlement  in  1676.  He  owned  a  farm  in  the  village  of  New 
Utrecht,  also  several  lots  at  Yellow  Hook,  now  Bay  Ridge,  the  lots 
extending  from  the  Bay  back  to  present  Third  Avenue,  in  the  vicinity 
of  Van  Brunt's  Lane  and  Bay  Ridge  Ave.  In  1675  he  and  others 
petitioned  Governor  Colve  for  land  on  Staten  Island  (page  643,  Vol. 
II,  Doc.  of  Col.  N.  Y.  His.)  He  sold  the  Yellow  Hook  land  to  Denys 
Denys  (recorded  Denys  Theunis),  January  26,  1681.  His  village 
house  and  lot  was  also  sold  at  this  time  to  Hans  Harmense  (Van 
Barkeloo).  After  selling  his  farm  in  1681  he  removed  to  Gowanus, 
taking  oath  of  allegiance  there  1687.  Carl  Jans  Van  Dyck  purchased 
his  farmlands.  The  Schermerhorn  farm  at  Gowanus  was  purchased 
by  Adriene  Willemse,  who  thus  left  New  Utrecht  and  became  identi- 
fied with  Gowanus  locality.  His  children  were: 

*Jan  Adriense. 

Tryntje  Adrientse    (bap.    1664,  mar.   Nov.    I2th,    1685,   Cornelis 
Rutgerz  Van  Brunt). 
„  Arie  Adrientse. 

Jacob  Adrientse. 

Cornelis  Adrientse. 

Isaac  Adrientse. 

Isaac  Adrientse. 

Abraham  Adrientse  (bap.  Mch.,  1680.  Mar.  1702,  Jannetje  Folckers. 
Conveyed  land  at  Gowanus — Schermerhorn  farm  portion — to  Jacob 
Bennet,  Jan.  2d,  1708.  Then  moved  to  Freehold,  N.  J.). 

Antje  Adrientse. 

Maria  Adrientse. 

Annatje  Adrientse. 

Engel  Adrientse. 

*Of  these  Jan  Adriense,  born — died  after  1739.  Mar.  ist  Altie 
Hendrickse;  mar.  2d,  July,  1690,  Altje  Wynant  of  the  Wallabout 
(believed  dau.  of  Wynant  Pieterse).  They  had  a  son  Jan  Janse,  bap. 

Mch.  29,  1696,  who  mar.  Anna  .     He  lived  at  Gowanus  but  is 

also  an  ancestor  of  the  New  Utrecht  Bennett  family.  His  children 
were: 

William,  mar.  Sarah  Sherman. 

Jacob,  mar.  Elizabeth  Conselyea. 

John,  mar.  1746  Ann  Remsen. 

Wynant,  mar.  Geertje,  dau.  of  Jacobus  Emans  (of  Gowanus). 

Gertrude,  mar.   1743,  Jacob  Boerum. 

Mary,  mar.  Cornelis  Vandervoort. 

Altje,  mar.  May,  1746,  Cornelius  Schwout. 

It  is  not  intended  to  trace  out  all  these  various  branches  of  the 
Bennett  family,  with  many  more  not  here  included  as  descendants 


of  the  Gowanus  settler.  All  the  Bennett's  of  New  Utrecht  have 
known  and  admitted  their  relationship  to  some  extent,  but  so  intricate 
have  the  lines  become,  with  intermarriages  into  practically  all  the  old 
families  of  the  Township  that  the  task  is  not  possible  of  completion 
in  this  book  of  plain  reminiscences.  The  J.  Remsen  Bennett  family 
of  the  Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge,  have  long  been  identified  with  the 
history  of  the  Town  and  have  charming  homes  fronting  the  Bay,  by 
79th  Street.  Mrs.  J.  Remsen  Bennett,  Sr.,  had  many  tales  of  long 
ago  days  to  relate  and  was  accounted  the  oldest  resident  on  the  Shore 
Road.  The  sudden  passing  away  of  both  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Adolphus 
Bennett,  a  short  time  ago,  greatly  affected  the  whole  family  on  the 
Shore  Road.  Husband  and  wife,  devoted  to  each  other  in  life,  had 
often  wished  the  end  might  come  together — and  it  did,  or  so  nearly 
that  way  the  short  interval  of  minutes  made  it  seem  together.  A 
litigation  of  estate  matters  followed  these  unusual  deaths,  the  law 
deciding  that  Mrs.  Adolphus  Bennett  had  expired  first  and  her  hus- 
band accordingly  heired  her  property  and  so  his  heirs. 

The  David  C.  Bennett  family  is  another  prominent  branch  of 
the  ancestral  tree.  He  often  wondered  where  the  late  Ex-Gov.  David 
Bennett  Hill  obtained  his  name,  but  never  settled  down  to  the  task 
of  ascertaining.  The  Bennett  farmlands  extended  along  the  present 
79th  Street. 

VAN  BRUNT. 

Two  old  Van  Brunt  homesteads  in  the  Township  of  New  Utrecht 
make  it  proper  that  something  should  be  told  regarding  both.  History 
and  tradition  have  them  prominently  identified  with  their  native 
Town.  The  Van  Brunt  family  is  a  very  numerous  and  scattered 
one  at  the  present  time,  though  many  descendants  reside  in  Greater 
New  York  and  the  old  New  Utrecht  districts.  Hon.  Tunis  G.  Bergen 
published  a  history  of  the  Van  Brunt  family,  with  detailed  genealogies, 
before  his  death.  It  would  therefore  be  unnecessary  to  repeat  that 
good  work.  But  a  brief  sketch  is  permissible,  in  view  of  the  fact 
that  reminiscences  are  told  that  relate  directly  to  those  earlier  times. 

Rutger  Joosten  (Van  Brunt)  emigrated  from  the  Netherlands  in 
1653,  but  did  not  settle  at  New  Utrecht  until  1657,  when  the  first 
patents  were  granted  to  settlers  there,  under  the  petition  of  Jacques  Cor- 
teljau,  who  requested  that  he  be  allowed  to  establish  a  Colony  at  Najeck, 
to  be  called  New  Utrecht.  Among  those  first  twenty  settlers  appears 
the  name  of  Rutgert  Joosten. 

He  married  Tryntje  Claes  or  Claeson,  widow  of  Stoefel  Harmen- 

sen ;  he  married,  2nd,  Gretien .  His  sons  were  Nicholas,  Cornelis, 

Rutgerz,  Joost.  If  he  had  any  daughters  none  are  mentioned. 

132 


Rutgert  Joosten  (Van  Brunt)  was  Magistrate  in  New  Utrecht, 
1661,  and  from  1678  to  '81.  On  Governor  Dongan's  patent  in  1686 
he  was  represented  and  took  the  oath  of  allegiance  in  1687.  During 
1693  he  was  assessed  for  100  morgans  of  land  in  New  Utrecht  and 
also  had  two  lots  at  Yellow  Hoek  (n  and  12),  by  Arie  Willemse 
(Bennett),  and  on  the  other  side  by  Luykes  Mayers.  These  proper- 
ties were  later  occupied  by  his  descendants,  Rulef  and  Daniel  Van 
Brunt. 

In  order  to  better  explain  about  the  two  old  Van  Brunt  houses 
at  present  standing  in  Brooklyn's  3Oth  Ward,  it  must  be  remembered 
that  the  New  Utrecht  village  house  belongs  to  one  family  branch  and 


Rutger  Joosten  (Van  Brunt}  House,  built  1658.    The 
oldest  house  in  New  Utrecht. 

the  Shore  Road  homestead  to  another  branch  of  the  family.  The  New 
Utrecht  village  house  is  the  older  house  of  the  two.  It  was  erected 
when  the  Colony  was  first  established,  per  historic  records  that  tell 
of  the  Van  Brunt  house  being  built  when  the  de  Sille  house  was,  1658. 
It  is  known  that  Rutgert  Joosten  (Van  Brunt)  died  prior  to  1713. 
Of  the  four  sons,  Nicholas,  Cornelis,  Rutgerz  and  Joost,  it  is  proved 
that  Nicholas,  a  farmer  of  New  Utrecht,  married  August  19,  1683, 
Helena  Corteljau,  daughter  of  Jacques  Corteljau.  Nicholas  died  about 
1684,  or  before  his  father.  His  widow  Helena,  married  second,  Denyse 
Teunise  (Denyse),  and  upon  his  death  married  third,  Hendrick  Hen- 
drickson,  of  the  Narrows.  Old  time  records  prove  all  this.  Helena's 
son  by  Nicholas  Rutgerz  (Van  Brunt)  was  baptized  August  31,  1684, 
after  the  father  died,  and  so  was  very  naturally  named  Nicholas  (2d). 

133 


This  latter  named  Nicholas  Van  Brunt  married  Maria,  daughter  of 
Roeloffe  Jans  Verkerk,  Nicholas  2nd,  died  about  1713,  leaving  chil- 
dren Nicholas  (3rd),  Roelof  and  Jaques.  From  this  line  there  are 
many  descendants  of  the  Van  Brunt  family. 

It  will  now  be  necessary  to  return  to  the  ancestor  of  the  village 
of  New  Utrecht  and  follow  down  along  the  line  of  his  son  Cornelis 
Rutgerz  (Van  Brunt)  of  New  Utrecht.  He  married  in  1685,  Tryntje, 
daughter  of  Adrian  Willemse  (Bennett).  Cornelis  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  in  1687.  In  1698-1717,  he  was  a  member  of  the  Colonial 
Assembly.  He  was  a  large  landowner  in  New  Utrecht,  being  assessed 
for  144  acres  during  1706.  He  resided  in  the  village  of  New  Utrecht, 
buying  his  homestead  from  Johannes  Swart  or  Swartout  in  1714. 
This  Swartout  had  been  one  of  the  original  20  patent  holders  under 
Jacques  Corteljau's  settlement  at  Najeck.  It  must  thus  be  realized 
that  there  were  then  two  Van  Brunt  homesteads  in  the  village  proper. 
Cornelis  Rutgerz  (Van  Brunt)  died  about  1748. 

The  last  named  son  of  the  ancestor  Rutgert  Joosten  was  Joost. 
He,  too,  was  identified  with  New  Utrecht  history.  He  was  a  farmer 

and  married  first, .  Married  second,  April  16,  1687,  Altie 

Van  Vooris,  daughter  of  Stephen  Van  Vooris  or  Voorhees.  (This 
name  has  been  variously  spelled  in  the  old  records.)  During  1687 
Joost  Rutgerz  (Van  Brunt)  took  the  oath  of  allegiance.  Joost  was 
Supervisor  of  the  town  1703  to  1743,  except  1721,  when  Pieter  Cortel- 
jau  served  as  such.  Joost  Rutgerz  Van  Brunt  was  also  Ensign,  Cap- 
tain, Lieut.-Colonel,  and  finally  Colonel  in  the  Militia.  In  1706  he 
was  assessed  for  120  acres  of  land  in  New  Utrecht.  He  died  about 
1746,  leaving  a  son  Rutgert  Van  Brunt. 

Regarding  the  historic  Van  Brunt  homestead  on  the  Shore  Road, 
it  would  appear  that  it  was  built  by  Jaques  Van  Brunt,  son  of 
Nicholas  and  Maria  Van  Brunt,  which  Nicholas  was  son  of  Nicholas 
and  Helena  and  said  named  Nicholas  the  son  of  Rutgert  Joosten  the 
common  ancestor  of  the  first  patent.  The  Shore  Road  homestead 
has  always  been  occupied  by  a  Van  Brunt,  although  the  house  has 
been  somewhat  altered  from  its  original  lines  and  size.  Yet  it  has 
not  lost  its  quaintness  nor  history.  Its  present  occupant  is  Mr.  Rulef 
Van  Brunt,  son  of  Daniel  Van  Brunt,  who  was  son  of  Jaques  Van 
Brunt  and  so  on  backward  to  the  ancestor  of  the  family.  Jaques 
Van  Brunt  had  two  sons,  Daniel  and  Rulef,  the  old  homestead 
descending  to  Daniel  Van  Brunt.  It  is  told  of  "Dan,"  as  he  has  been 
familiarly  known  in  his  native  township  that  "Dan"  always  had  all 
the  way  from  one  to  25  children  in  his  wagon  or  sleigh  every  time 
he  went  out  on  the  road.  He  was  known  to  be  a  friend  of  all  the 
children — they  all  loved  to  get  a  ride  with  their  friend  Dan — and 

134 


that  was  Dan  Van  Brunt,"  as  the  narrator  told  the  story  of  the  Shore 
Road  descendant  of  Jaques  Van  Brunt. 

This  home  is  on  the  site  where  "Owl's  Head"  properly  belongs. 
So  say  the  old  fishermen  of  New  Utrecht,  especially  one  now  living 
at  Fort  Hamilton,  who,  when  asked  whether  Owl's  Head  were  near 
the  E.  W.  Bliss  estate  at  Bay  Ridge  (formerly  owned  by  Henry  C. 
Murphy)  replied,  "No  need  to  ask  us  old  fishermen  where  Owl's 
Head  is — we  all  know  it's  by  Van  Brunt's."  The  Hon.  Mr.  Murphy 
went  to  great  trouble  to  explain  why  Owl's  Head  existed  on  his  own 
property  by  65th  Street,  but  the  Van  Brunt  family  stoutly  contra- 
dicted any  such  claim  and  have  always  insisted  that  Owl's  Head  is 
by  their  own  property,  the  Rulef  Van  Brunt  homestead.  And  so  it 
would  appear  to  be,  judging  from  the  natural  scenic  condition  of  the 
Shore  Road  in  its  primitive  state.  Moreover,  the  general  verdict 
of  the  elderly  residents  of  the  Township  have  invariably  pronounced 
a  verdict  in  favor  of  the  Van  Brunt  locality  for  Owl's  Head.  If 
majority  counts  for  anything  in  an  argument  of  historic  value  the 
weight  of  the  argument  is  assuredly  on  the  Van  Brunt  side,  not  on 
the  late  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy's  claim  to  Owl's  Head  for  the  65th 
Street  locality. 

There  is  much  to  relate  about  the  old  homestead  still  standing  on 
the  present  84th  Street  near  i8th  Avenue,  Brooklyn.  It  was  formerly 
Kings  Highway,  then  Main  Street  (so  named  by  Judge  Andrew  G. 
Cropsey  of  New  Utrecht),  and  now  is  84th  Street.  At  the  head  of 
the  street  stands  the  present  Dutch  Church,  and  the  West  End 
electric  cars  pass  around  the  curve  of  what  was  once  the  center  of 
the  village  proper. 

The  Van  Brunt  house,  typical  of  long  ago  days,  is  a  relic  often 
noted.  It  is  older  than  even  the  Van  Pelt  house,  which  latter  farm- 
house is  on  i8th  Avenue,  not  far  away  from  the  Van  Brunt  house. 

History  tells  that  the  de  Sille  homestead  was  erected  in  1658, 
and  at  the  same  time  the  Van  Brunt  house  was  built.  It  is  unques- 
tionably the  first  Van  Brunt  homestead  built  and  is  therefore  parent 
to  the  others  that  followed  in  the  general  history  of  the  town.  Within 
its  wide  Dutch  hall  have  been  men  noted  in  the  history  of  New  Am- 
sterdam. One  visitor  was  the  pompous  Gov.  Pieter  Stuyvesant,  who 
came  to  the  New  Utrecht  settlement  to  learn  "how  matters  were  pro- 
gressing there  and  to  determine  just  what  was  most  needed  for  the 
welfare  and  comfort  of  the  new  Colony.  His  visit  was  the  occasion 
for  great  and  notable  festivity  in  the  settlement.  The  first  flag  raised 
in  New  Utrecht  was  unfurled  that  day.  Just  who  made  the  flag  is 
not  stated  in  the  old  records.  After  the  outdoor  jollification  the 
Governor  of  New  Amsterdam  dined  at  the  Van  Brunt  house,  in  the 

135 


village.    This  was  February  6,  1660.    It  is  also  positive  proof  that  the  first 
Van  Brunt  house  was  established  at  this  period. 

During  the  Revolutionary  war  the  house  was  used  by  the  British, 
just  as  were  many  other  homesteads  throughout  the  Township.  There 
were  prisoners  of  war  within  its  walls,  also  some  echoes  of  the  hos- 
pital, established  in  the  first  Dutch  Church,  which  church  was  only 
a  short  distance  down  the  Highway,  toward  the  West.  The  red 
coated  English  were  in  the  house  and  all  around  the  locality.  Because 
General  Woodhull  was  carried  to  the  de  Sille  house  and  there  died, 
of  course  the  de  Sille  place  has  more  prominent  a  place  in  history, 
but  the  old  Van  Brunt  homestead  could  tell  many  tales  of  those 
troublous  war  days  if  walls  could  only  speak.  The  property  became 


Judge  Huliues  Van  Brunt  House,  Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge 
(Later  the  Crescent  Athletic  Club  Property) 

attached  to  the  Bergen  family  during  recent  years,  Miss  Johanna 
Bergen  being  present  owner  but  not  its  occupant.  Strangers  have 
resided  in  it  and  have  taken  pride  in  the  fact  that  it  is  an  old  house 
though  never  knowing  or  understanding  its  complete  history.  The 
story  of  Altje  Van  Brunt,  as  told  by  a  descendant,  Mr.  John  Franklin 
Berry,  must  be  either  a  part  of  this  particular  homestead  or  else  of 
the  home  of  Cornelis  or  Joost,  both  of  New  Utrecht  village.  The 
Van  Brunt  homestead  on  86th  Street,  near  i8th  Avenue,  was  built 
about  1812.  Mr.  Jeremiah  L.  Van  Brunt  resided  there.  It  is  a  very 
large,  old  fashioned  homestead,  but  not  so  old  as  its  ancestral  home, 
or  homes.  In  this  way  the  Van  Brunt  family  have  become  a  scattered 
family  of  old  homesteads,  records  and  traditions.  Each  branch  have 
been  puzzled  to  know  about  the  other  branches,  while  the  various 
historic  homesteads  known  to  be  Van  Brunt  homesteads  have  been 

136 


just  as  mixed  up  as  have  been  the  genealogies.  But  certain  it  is,  what- 
ever the  genealogies,  there  were  three  Van  Brunt  houses  in  the  village 
of  New  Utrecht  during  the  1776  war  and  also  one  on  the  Shore  Road, 
between  the  Narrows  and  Yellow  Hook,  now  Bay  Ridge.  Each  family 
must  straighten  out  its  own  particular  branch  from  the  general  ancestor, 
Rutgert  Joosten,  or  his  sons,  Nicholas,  Cornelis,  Rutgerz,  Joost.  (The 
third  son,  Rutgerz,  has  no  mention  here  because  that  is  a  New  Jersey 
branch.) 

The  name  of  Van  Brunt  has  been  generously  handed  down  to  pos- 
terity. It  has  also  been  identified  with  American  history  in  many  ways 
and  with  honor.  Perhaps  no  better  proof  of  this  can  be  found  than  in 
the  public  records  of  Greater  New  York.  Brooklyn  has  also  a  Van  Brunt 


Albert  Van  Brunt  House,  Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge 
(Next  Judge  Van  Brunt's) 

Street,  which  thoroughfare  along  the  water  front,  an  important  street 
long  ago,  was  named  for  the  old  New  Utrecht  family  of  that  name. 
Judge  Holmes  Van  Brunt  was  a  notable  figure  on  the  Bench.  It  was 
in  his  beautiful  residence  on  the  Shore  Road  that  Douglas  and  his 
partner  Mosher  were  shot  as  burglars,  one  night  when  a  burglary  was 
nipped  in  the  bud  by  the  alert  family  next  door.  The  man  Mosher 
declared  just  before  he  died  that  the  kidnapping  of  Charlie  Ross  had 
been  the  work  of  his  partner  and  himself,  but  before  any  post  mortem 
could  be  taken  the  man  died.  That  was  the  only  act  of  justice  the 
Judge  ever  regretted — that  the  burglar  had  been  wounded  sufficiently 
to  prevent  a  confession  in  detail.  The  homestead  afterward  became 
the  property  of  the  Crescent  Athletic  Club  of  Brooklyn. 

It  is  likely  the  Van  Brunt  family  on  the  whole,  have  more  old 
homesteads  to  its  credit  than  an^  other  of  the  Colonial  families  of 

137 


the  Township.     And  at  the  present  time  two  of  the  oldest  are  still 
in  existence. 

It  has  been  related  that  "another  cultivated  and  attractive  young 
Brooklyn  woman  was  Miss  Van  Brunt,  daughter  of  Cornelis  Van 
Brunt,  who  resided  on  what  was  a  part  of  the  old  Staats  farm  on  the 
Gowanus  Road.  Her  complexion  was  blonde  and  she  had  a  beauti- 
fully rounded  form,  regular  features  and  black  hair.  A  liberal  educa- 
tion had  qualified  her  to  do  credit  to  her  Dutch  ancestry  in  such 
society  as  that  of  the  Polhemuses,  the  Schoonmakers  and  other  lead- 
ing families  of  the  times."  This  young  lady  so  mentioned  married 
Mr.  Thomas  Tallmadge,  who  was  elected  Mayor  of  Brooklyn  in 
1845  (46). 

THE  STORY  OF  ALTJE  VAN  BRUNT. 
By  a  Descendant,  Mrs.  John  Franklin  Berry,  of  Brooklyn. 

The  sun  was  shining  brightly  on  the  morning  of  August  22,  1776, 
and  there  was  great  bustling  around  the  Van  Brunt  house.  Father 
was  Captain  of  the  Militia  and  was  with  the  Company,  away  from 
home.  Mother  was  left  to  be  the  Captain  of  the  Home  Guard  and 
as  we  shall  see,  was  a  Commanding  officer  not  to  be  despised.  There 
was  bread  to  be  baked  in  the  great  Dutch  oven  this  busy  morning, 
chickens  and  cows  to  be  cared  for  and  everyone  was  busy. 

"Now,  Rutgert,  take  the  cows  down  to  the  pasture  by  the  shore," 
said  Mother,  and  off  went  the  boy,  but  in  a  few  moments  came  back 
crying,  "Oh,  Mother,  the  British  are  coming." 

She,  hearing  the  alarming  news,  went  in  a  great  hurry  to  the 
door  and  looked  toward  the  shore.  Surely,  there  were  the  soldiers, 
hundreds  of  them  and  many  pieces  of  cannon.  Slowly  they  marched 
along,  their  guns  shining  in  the  sunlight.  No  time  now,  for  delay. 
This  was  a  time  when  "discretion  was  the  better  part  of  valor." 
Mother  directed  the  horses  to  be  put  to  the  farm  wagon,  some  treas- 
ures collected,  the  frightened  children  were  safely  stowed  away  in 
the  cumbersome  vehicle  and  then,  leaving  a  few  old  slaves  in  charge, 
the  horses  were  whipped  up  and  they  started  for  New  Lots,  where 
they  hoped  to  be  safe.  As  they  raced  around  the  corner  of  the  Kings 
Highway,  poor  little  Altje  lost  her  new  pink  sunbonnet.  So  loud 
were  her  lamentations  that  in  spite  of  haste,  they  were  obliged  to 
stop  for  it.  Then  on  they  went,  like  Paul  Revere,  calling  out  the 
news  as  they  passed  each  farm  house — "The  British  are  coming." 

After  a  few  days,  news  was  brought  Mother  that  the  British  had 
taken  possession  of  her  home.  This  was  too  much.  To  think  that 
the  British  and  Hessians  in  her  house  were  using  her  goods,  her  stores 
and  everything  dear  to  the  heart  of  a  good  housekeeper.  Calling 

138 


up  her  pluck  she  decided  to  take  her  family  back  and  claim  her  own. 
So  again  were  the  horses  made  ready,  the  children  stowed  in  the 
wagon,  Altje's  pink  bonnet  tied  firmly  under  her  chin  and  they 
started  for  home.  When  they  arrived  they  were  met  at  the  door  by 
an  Officer  who  said,  "Madam,  who  are  you  and  what  do  you  want?" 

"I  am  the  owner  of  this  house  and  I  want  to  come  in,"  said 
Mother.  "Not  so,"  replied  the  officer.  "We  have  taken  this  house  for 
ours."  "Well,"  answered  Mother,  "the  house  is  mine  and  I  must  have 
some  place  for  my  children."  The  officer  was  apparently  struck  with 
her  determined  manner;  they  compromised.  Mother  was  allowed 
one  part  of  the  house,  while  the  British  used  the  other  part.  Having 
gained  this  point  Mother  set  about  making  herself  as  comfortable  as 
she  could,  under  the  circumstances. 

"Where  are  my  cows?"  asked  she. 

"You  have  no  cows,"  replied  the  Englishman. 

"No  cows?  Why,  how  am  I  to  feed  my  children  without  cows  or 
chickens?" 

All  this  time  Maria,  the  eldest  daughter,  stood  modestly  by  her 
mother's  side.  Perhaps  her  sweet  face  had  already  touched  the 
Englishman's  heart,  for  he  said,  "If  you  can  describe  one  cow  you 
can  have  it  for  your  own  use."  Mother  promptly  described  the  best 
cow  and  also  claimed  the  chickens  in  the  same  way.  Be  it  said,  to 
the  credit  of  the  British  Officer,  that  she  was  always  treated  with 
great  respect.  The  Lord  has  given  us  all  fathers,  some  brothers,  some 
have  husbands,  so  we  naturally  ask  "Where  was  the  man?"  As  I 
said,  father  was  Captain  in  the  Militia  and  after  the  Battle  of  Long 
Island  and  the  occupation  of  the  Island  by  the  British,  father,  whose 
name  was  Adrian  Van  Brunt,  with  his  neighbor,  were  compelled  either 
to  take  the  oath  of  allegiance  to  the  King,  to  leave  the  country,  or 
to  suffer  the  pains  and  penalties  of  a  refusal.  Not  being  prepared  to 
emigrate  and  unwilling  to  run  the  risk  of  starvation  and  suffering,  he 
and  nearly  all  the  farmers  in  Kings  County  took  the  oath  of  allegiance 
and  remained  under  British  government  until  the  end  of  the  war. 
On  the  i3th  of  June,  1778,  William  Marriner,  with  Lieut.  John 
Schenck  and  28  militiamen  from  New  Jersey,  landed  with  two  boats 
on  the  beach  of  Adrian's  farm.  Having  called  on  their  friends,  they 
marched  to  Flatbush,  intending  to  take  as  prisoners,  Matthews  and 
Sherbrook.  They  succeeded,  and  in  addition  Captain  Forest,  who  were 
carried  from  their  beds,  marched  to  the  beach,  and  so  taken  to  Jersey. 
The  British  authorities  very  rightly  supposed  it  was  impossible  for 
Marroiner's  party  to  have  marched  to  Flatbush  in  the  evening  without 
having  been  seen  by  some  one.  Those  who  knew  of,  or  had  seen 
the  party  and  failed  to  give  the  alarm,  were  guilty  of  treason.  So 

139 


Adrian,  his  brother  Rutgart,  Rem  Van  Pelt  and  his  brother  Auert, 
were  arrested  on  suspicion  and  confined,  separately,  in  the  Provost 
jail  in  New  York.  Rutgart,  who  had  some  money  in  his  pocket,  man- 
aged to  bribe  the  jailer.  He  so  managed  to  have  a  midnight  interview 
with  his  fellow  prisoners,  at  which  it  was  agreed  to  deny  all  knowledge 
of  the  affair.  When  examined  separately,  they  all  agreed  in  the  one 
story,  and  as  there  was  no  proof  against  them  they  were  discharged. 
That  Adrian's  friends  and  neighbors  thought  well  of  him  is  shown 
by  the  records  that  he  was  a  member  of  the  Consistory  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  from  1763  until  the  end  of  his  life,  and  his  name  appears 
at  head  of  all  addresses  and  Committees. 

In  the  meantime,  Mother  was  closely  guarding  her  daughters, 
who  were  growing  to  be  pretty  maidens,  from  the  smiles  and  wiles 
of  the  English  officers.  But,  as  has  often  been  sung  in  verse  and 
story,  "Love  laughs  at  Locksmiths,"  the  old  sweet  story  was  told  in 
the  Van  Brunt  home.  One  morning  Mother  awoke  to  find  her 
daughter  Maria  had  eloped  with  Robert  Chesley,  one  of  those  "Awful" 
British. 

To  St.  Mary's  County,  Maryland,  went  the  lovers  and  there  lived, 
always  happy  in  their  great  love.  After  some  years  the  parental 
hearts  softened  toward  their  daughter,  so  many  miles  from  all  her 
kin  and  Father  and  Altje  started  to  pay  her  a  visit.  Many  were  the 
trials  and  dangers  encountered  by  land  and  sea  but  at  last,  after 
many  days  journeying,  they  reached  their  destination  and  settled 
down  to  have  a  nice  visit. 

But  alas !  Father  was  taken  ill.  In  spite  of  copious  bleedings  and  all 
the  skill  possessed  by  the  Doctor,  he  grew  steadily  worse.  So  he 
called  his  daughters  to  his  side,  gave  them  his  blessing  and  some 
directions,  then  turned  his  face  to  the  wall  and  died.  Then  poor 
Altje  had  the  long,  lonely  journey  back  home,  with  the  sad  news  to 
tell  Mother,  father's  clothes  and  his  funeral  sermon,  to  comfort  the 
Mother.  Before  putting  his  clothes  away  in  the  big  chest,  Mother 
searched  his  pockets,  much  the  same  as  the  wives  of  the  present  day 
do.  In  one  of  the  pockets  of  the  garment  thus  sadly  returned,  Mother 
found  two  hickory  nuts.  She  planted  these  in  the  garden  and  to-day 
one  of  those  trees  is  still  standing  as  witness  of  her  thrift  and  love. 

Altje  married  Engelbert  Lott,  of  Flatbush,  who  came  to  New 
Utrecht  and  lived  on  the  farm  which  Altje  inherited  from  her  father, 
not  a  stone's  throw  from  the  spot  where  her  brother  first  saw  the 
British  landing.  Surrounded  by  her  children  and  children's  children, 
she  often  sang  the  songs  and  repeated  verses,  which  she  had  learned 
of  the  officers  in  her  old  home,  as  a  child.  During  1861,  Altje,  of  sun- 
bonnet  fame,  died. 

140 


VAN  PELT. 

Whatever  changes  New  Utrecht  has  undergone  as  a  town,  one 
landmark  remains  intact — the  Van  Pelt  homestead  on  i8th  Avenue 
and  what  was  called  Kings  Highway.  When  the  farm  was  sold,  Mr. 
J.  Lott  Xostrand  and  lawyer  first  called  the  place  Van  Pelt  Manor, 
and  so  changed  the  name  of  New  Utrecht  village  to  that  of  Van  Pelt 
Manor,  in  1890.  Now  this  is  swallowed  up  in  a  Rapid  Transit  railroad 
platform  marked  84th  Street.  Thus  have  Brooklyn  streets  extended 
countryward. 

The  low  white  farmhouse,  with  its  historic  milestone  in  front, 
has  always  been  occupied  by  a  Van  Pelt.  Mr.  TownSend  C.  Van 


f. 


Gysbert  Van  Pelt  House  (Van  Pelt  Manor},  built  1664.    (Occupied, 

/poo,  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Townsend  C.  Van  Pelt, 

7th  generation) 

Pelt,  seventh  generation  from  Gysbert  Van  Pelt,  died  in  his  ancestral 
home  during  1910.  It  will  doubtless  always  remain  in  the  family. 
The  house  was  erected  in  1664.  In  the  oldest  portion  of  it  (on  the 
West  side)  is  a  fire  place  made  of  bricks  and  having  tiles,  brought 
from  Holland  in  1663.  The  New  York  Historical  Society  endeavored 
to  secure  the  tiles  but  they  were  not  to  be  given  up.  They  are  as 
originally  placed,  some  upside  down,  others  sideways.  They  depict 
noted  places  in  Holland.  It  is  supposed  the  strange  looking  birds 
represented,  are  for  Holland's  national  bird.  There  are  broad  beams, 
cupboards,  tall  mantel  shelves  and  deep  window  ledges  for  interior 
build.  Nothing  has  been  modernized  in  this  respect.  The  lower 
half  of  the  house  was  built  of  stone,  as  a  needed  protection  against 
Indian  raids. 

141 


Gysbert  (Gilbert)  Van  Pelt  emigrated  from  Holland  to  New 
Utrecht  1663.  Then  comes  Aurt  (Anthony),  Petras  (Peter),  Rem, 
Jacob,  John,  Townsend  C,  making  just  seven  generations  for  the 
old  homestead.  In  those  earlier  days,  New  Utrecht  was  a  stretch  of 
woodlands,  with  farmhouses  scattered  here  and  there  and  roads  at 
wide  intervals. 

Among  those  who  secured  one  of  the  20  plots  of  50  acres  each, 
given  by  Jacques  Cortelyou  when  he  founded  the  township,  was  the 
first  Van  Pelt,  and  descendants  possess  intact,  the  only  remaining 
original  grant  of  50  acres,  of  those  20  plots.  It  was  this  land  which 
Mr.  J.  Lott  Nostrand  of  Bath  Beach  cut  up  into  small  plots  for  sale, 
dropping  the  name  of  old  New  Utrecht  village  for  that  of  Van  Pelt 
Manor.  The  family  gave  consent. 

History  should  relate  that  on  one  of  the  diamond  paned  windows 
of  the  homestead  was  scratched  the  names  of  Lieut.  George  Forest 
and  others  of  the  Royal  prisoners  confined  there,  by  order  of  General 
Howe,  who  was  also  an  occupant  of  the  house.  Capt.  W.  Marriner, 
who  desired  revenge  upon  several  noted  Tories,  obnoxious  to  the 
American  cause,  quietly  originated  a  plan  that  resulted  in  an  upheaval. 
On  the  night  of  June  13,  1778,  he  tapped  on  the  window  pane  of  the 
back  bedroom  and  inquired  how  the  family  all  were.  He  explained 
he  was  going  to  Flatbush.  As  he  frequently  called,  nothing  was 
thought  of  this.  The  family  knew  him  well.  But  they  did  not  know 
he  had  come  to  New  Utrecht  that  night  in  company  with  an  armed 
crew,  who  left  their  boats  on  the  beach  below  and  marched  to 
Flatbush  in  hope  of  capturing  Colonel  Matthews,  Mayor  of  New  York ; 
Miles  Sherbrook,  Major  Moncriffe  and  Theoplylaet  Bache,  all  of  Flat- 
bush.  Also  Lieutenant  Forest  of  New  Utrecht.  The  two  latter 
Flatbush  men  were  taken  prisoners  by  Marriner  and  transported  to 
New  Jersey.  Soon  after  the  British  searched  for  those  who  failed  to 
give  information  regarding  Marriner's  movements  that  night.  It 
ended  in  the  arrest  of  Col.  Adrian  Van  Brunt,  Rem  Van  Pelt,  and  his 
brother  Aurt  Van  Pelt.  They  were  taken  to  New  York  and  imprisoned 
on  a  charge  of  treason.  Each  man  was  placed  in  a  separate  cell. 

Colonel  Van  Brunt  had  some  golden  guineas  hidden  and  with 
these  he  bribed  the  keeper's  wife  (who  served  the  meals),  and  so 
managed  to  communicate  with  his  prisoner  friends.  It  was  agreed 
each  should  deny  knowledge  of  Captain  Marriner's  night  visit.  When 
each  prisoner  was  examined  separately  before  the  British  authorities, 
no  proof  was  obtained  and  all  were  reluctantly  discharged. 

It  is  known  that  Gen.  George  Washington  visited  the  Van  Pelt 
home,  though  only  for  a  brief  while.  After  the  war  closed,  he  came 
to  New  Utrecht  again  and  visiting  the  little  village  schoolhouse, 

142 


patted  small  Peter  Van  Pelt  upon  the  head,  telling  him  to  grow  up 
to  be  a  good  citizen  and  man.  Strangely  enough  Peter  became  a 
Minister  and  preached  for  years  on  Staten  Island.  The  house  opposite 
the  old  Grave  yard  formerly  owned  by  John  E.  Lott,  now  by  J.  Lott 
and  George  Nostrand,  was  the  place  where  Washington  took  dinner 
the  day  he  visited  the  school  house;  it  was  then  a  tavern  and  kept 
by  a  man  named  Barrie. 

Mrs.  Townsend  C.  Van  Pelt,  the  present  occupant  of  the  old 
homestead,  has  a  wealth  of  delightful  historic  keepsakes  and  also 
memories.  She  is  the  ninth  generation  in  direct  descent  from  Sarah 
deRapalje,  whom  New  York  history  tells  of  in  detail.  Mrs.  Van  Pelt, 
as  Miss  Maria  E.  Ditmars,  of  Flatlands,  naturally  recalls  more  of 
her  native  town  than  she  does  of  other  localities.  Events  of  the  Civil 
War  are  remembered  because  of  a  little  poem  she  heard  at  St.  Johns, 
N.  B.,  where  she  met  a  school  teacher  during  a  drive  there,  a  young 
woman  equally  pleased  to  meet  somebody  from  New  York,  being  an 
American  sympathizer.  Here  is  the  verse: 

"In  1861  it  was  the  year  the  war  begun, 
In  1862  they  thought  they'd  show  what  they  could  do, 
In  1863  they  thought  they  would  agree, 
In  1864  they  laid  Jeff  Davis  on  the  floor." 

That  verse,  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  declares,  took  her  fancy;  she  had  the 
young  school  teacher  repeat  it,  until  it  was  memorized,  which  has 
been  the  way  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  never  forgot  Civil  War  dates.  She  was 
not  a  resident  of  New  Utrecht  until  after  her  marriage.  Villages 
seemed  far  apart  those  days.  She  remembers  the  first  flag  for  Flat- 
bush  was  made  in  the  home  of  her  great-great-grandfather,  Capt. 
Cornelius  Vanderveer,  of  Flatbush.  Flag  making  meant  considerable 
painstaking  labor  at  that  time.  Of  the  historic  milestone,  standing 
near  the  Van  Pelt  house,  she  tells  a  humorous  story.  When  A.  V.  B. 
Bennett  was  Road  Commissioner,  about  30  years  ago,  he  came  along 
one  day  and  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  soon  heard  a  great  bumping,  thumping 
noise  outside.  She  found  Mr.  Bennett  putting  the  milestone  in  his 
wagon,  to  take  it  away.  He  was  clearing  up  the  road,  believed  she 
would  be  glad  to  have  the  old  stone  removed  out  of  the  way  and  cheer- 
fully was  obliging.  When  she  explained  he  should  promptly  take  it 
out  of  his  wagon  he  did  so,  putting  it  where  it  stands  to-day.  The 
original  site  was  on  a  triangle  about  50  feet  from  82d  Street.  It 
stood  near  a  big  Walnut  tree,  since  cut  down.  Young  Van  Pelts  used 
the  top  of  the  milestone  to  crack  the  black  walnuts  gathered,  but  this 
has  been  stopped  for  some  years,  or  since  the  tree  was  cut  down. 
Eighteenth  Avenue  was  then  New  Utrecht  Lane.  As  few  reminders 

143 


of  the  old  times  are  left,  the  19  milestones  left  within  Greater  New 
York's  limits  have  been  placed  in  custody  of  the  City  History  Club 
of  New  York. 

The  Club  has  secured  and  will  preserve  the  milestone  by  legal 
gift  of  land  and  stone  from  the  Van  Pelts,  who,  during  May,  1910, 
gave  a  square  of  land  20  by  15  feet  to  the  City  History  Club  for  such 
purpose.  There  will  be  a  bronze  railing  from  post  to  post  and  a 
coping  around  the  whole  square  of  land. 

The  original  site  for  the  milestone  will  be  the  one  for  final  resting 
place,  near  82d  Street.  Ceremonies  of  emplacement  will  be  fittingly 
observed  at  a  future  date.  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  has  also  been  deeply  inter- 
ested in  preservation  of  the  Liberty  Pole,  first  erected  in  New  Utrecht 
in  1783,  with  successive  second,  third  and  fourth  foundations  to  the 
original  pole.  The  original  site  has  been  retained  and  presented  to 
the  Liberty  Pole  Association,  on  September  10,  1910,  by  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Townsend  C.  Van  Pelt,  a  few  weeks  previous  to  the  death  of 
Mr.  Van  Pelt.  The  third  plate  on  the  Pole  tells  this.  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Van  Pelt  had  taken  charge  of  the  flag  and  for  the  past  30  years  had 
seen  that  it  was  floating  on  the  breeze  for  all  holidays  or  patriotic 
occasions. 

The  Liberty  Pole  Association  was  formed  two  years  ago,  having 
for  its  object,  preservation  of  the  historic  pole,  whose  first  erection 
marked  British  evacuation  from  American  shores  at  close  of  the 
Revolutionary  war,  amid  gala  times  in  the  Dutch  Township  of  New 
Utrecht.  It  is  said  to  be  the  only  original  Liberty  Pole  on  Long 
Island.  Mrs.  Van  Pelt  is  both  a  Colonial  Dame  and  a  Daughter  of 
the  Revolution,  and  is  interested  in  everything  relating  to  historic 
matters. 

THE  BERGEN  FAMILY. 

It  is  not  purposed  to  give  a  detailed  history  of  this  family,  for 
who  has  done  this  better  than  one  member,  the  Hon.  Teunis  G.  Bergen. 
The  Bergen  properties  and  interests  took  in  a  large  part  of  Gowanus, 
now  the  Eighth  Ward  of  Brooklyn,  and  extended  into  New  Utrecht 
(3Oth  Ward)  taking  up  a  part  of  Yellow  Hoek  now  called  Bay  Ridge. 
Bergen  properties  were  thus  in  New  Utrecht  and  also  Brooklyn. 
Establishment  of  what  was  "City  Lane,"  at  65th  Street,  was  between 
the  Bergen  homesteads. 

Bergen  and  Van  Bergen  is  from  the  Netherlands  but  it  is  also 
known  in  Germany  and  Ireland.  In  Dutch  the  name  is  pronounced 
"Bar-rer-gen."  It  signifies  Hills.  Amsterdam  history  has  mention 
of  the  name  among  Municipal  officers. 

Hans  Hansen  Bergen,  the  first  ancestor  to  America,  emigrated 

144 


from  Holland  in  1663,  but  was  a  native  of  Bergen  in  Norway.  He 
was  a  ship  carpenter  by  trade.  With  him  was  Wouter  Van  Twiller, 
second  Director  General  of  the  West  India  Company.  The  ship  was 
"de  Zoutberg,"  or  Salt  Mountain.  It  had  20  guns  and  was  commanded 
by  Jurian  Blancke.  Hans  Hansen  Bergen  married  Sarah,  daughter  of 
Jores  (George)  Jansen  Rapalie,  born  June  9,  1625.  Sarah's  mother 
was  Catalyn  Trico,  daughter  of  Jeronomis  Trico  of  France.  Hans 
Hansen  Bergen  settled  at  New  Amsterdam,  near  the  present  Pearl 
Street.  In  1643  ne  was  on  Long  Island,  but  records  tell  of  his  return 
to  New  Amsterdam  during  Indian  troubles.  Later  on  he  became 
owner  of  a  tract  of  land  in  the  Gowanus  district  and  therewith  the 
Bergen  family  became  identified  with  Long  Island  and  New  Utrecht 
history,  for  Michael  Hans  Bergen,  a  son,  settled  at  Yellow  Hoek,  now 
Bay  Ridge. 

Of  Hans  Hansen  Bergen  a  tradition  is  told  that  relates  to  his 
experience  with  the  Indians,  then  causing  fear  among  the  white 
settlers  of  the  Colonies.  Not  only  was  Hans  a  capable  ship  carpenter 
but  he  must  also  have  been  a  man  of  musical  talent  as  well  as  pious 
mind.  Surrounded  by  the  enemy,  with  no  escape  possible,  he  sought 
temporary  safety  in  a  huge  tree  top,  where  the  Indians  found  him. 
Hans  thereupon  began  singing,  "In  myn  grootste  nood  o'Heere."  (In 
my  greatest  need,  O'Lord.)  The  Dutch  hymn  song  so  charmed  the 
astonished  and  listening  Indians  that  they  allowed  him  to  depart  in 
peace.  In  telling  this  pretty  tradition  existing  in  the  Bergen  family 
it  would  seem  fitting  to  add  a  sort  of  postscript,  showing  how  a  later 
date  descendant  had  exactly  the  same  brave  heart  and  exquisite  faith 
— the  life  and  work  of  Hon.  Teunis  G.  Bergen.  What  he  did  for  New 
Utrecht  has  never  been  fully  told.  When  events  around  him  were 
registering  great  changes ;  when  he  saw  his  town  developing,  chang- 
ing, he  turne'd  his  attention  to  duty,  as  he  knew  it,  putting  on  paper 
just  what  was  happening — and  what  was  already  past.  In  the  face 
of  discouragement,  in  spite  of  indifference  on  the  part  of  many  of  the 
Townspeople  in  his  work,  Teunis  G.  Bergen  was  even  then  inscribing 
his  name  upon  a  page  that  to-day  stands  forth  prominently.  Like  his 
ancestor,  Hans,  he  had  the  beauty  of  faith. 

Mr.  Teunis  G.  Bergen,  born  in  New  Utrecht,  October  6,  1806, 
was  son  of  Garret  Bergen  and  Jane  Wyckoff.  His  boyhood  days 
were  spent  on  his  father's  farm  at  Gowanus.  He  grew  up  to  be  not 
only  a  farmer  but  also  a  surveyor.  Later  he  was  in  the  Militia,  being 
Ensign,  Lieutenant,  Captain,  Adjutant,  and  the  Colonel  of  the  24ist 
Regiment,  N.  Y.  S.  N.  G.  As  Supervisor  of  New  Utrecht  he  served 
from  1836  to  1859.  He  was  also  chairman  of  the  Board,  1842  to  46. 
He  was  a  member  of  the  National  Democratic  Convention  at  Charles- 

10  145 


ton,  S.  C,  in  1860,  where  he  intrepidly  opposed  the  resolution  causing 
the  breach  between  the  Northern  and  Southern  Democracy.  He  was 
also  a  Representative  in  Congress  from  the  Second  District,  1864, 
being  elected  by  a  majority  of  4,800  over  the  "Union"  candidate. 
Following  his  active  life  as  citizen,  he  finally  turned  his  attention  to 
collecting  history  data  of  his  town  and  townspeople.  To  better 
accomplish  his  purpose  he  resorted  to  the  Dutch  language.  During 
his  younger  days  the  Dutch  language  was  still  to  a  great  extent, 
the  language  of  the  descendants  of  the  Hollanders  in  Kings  County. 
When  he  first  attended  school  he  could  not  speak  any  English. 
English,  however,  was  the  language  of  the  school.  From  boyhood  he 
kept  his  knowledge  of  the  Dutch  and  became  very  proficient  in  trans- 
lating the  old  manuscript.  The  language  of  the  manuscripts  is  very 
different  from  modern  Dutch. 

It  was  in  this  way  he  made  interpretation  of  the  old  manuscripts  and 
records  that  came  to  his  notice.  Few  errors  exist.  Often  he  reproached 
his  fellow  citizens  for  lack  of  interest  in  their  Township's  records  and 
genealogies.  Replies  were  usually  careless  "Of  what  use  is  all  this 
to  us?  It  is  waste  time."  Nevertheless  he  published  books  as  follows : 
"History  of  the  Bergen  Family."  "History  of  the  Van  Brunt  Family." 
"History  of  the  Lefferts  Family."  "Old  Families  of  New  Utrecht." 
"The  Reformed  Dutch  Church  History." 

These  books  were  not  largely  purchased  at  the  time.  Many  of 
the  very  people  who  idly  wondered  at  so  much  time  spent  on  appa- 
rently useless  scraps  of  data,  are  thankful  indeed  to  be  able  to  turn 
to  the  pages  of  history  now  intact.  For  Teunis  G.  Bergen  left  behind 
him  a  monument  that  can  never  be  obliterated.  Every  passing  year 
must  add  to  his  memory.  His  written  words  are  beyond  any  ques- 
tion— a  Bergen  history  is  a  Bergen  truth.  Especially  is  this  true  of 
his  attitude  and  forceful  statements  regarding  the  assumption  of 
Crests  and  Nobility  claims  by  many  of  the  descendants  of  those  early 
Colonists  to  America.  He  had  the  absolute  knowledge  that  those 
Colonists  were  not  of  the  Aristocracy  of  Europe  and  so  he  frankly 
stated  in  plain  type.  He  scoffed,  humorously,  but  decisively,  at  the 
various  published  works  on  Coat  of  Arms,  which  he  believed  lacked 
any  proof  and  could  not  be  connected  with  American  Colonists.  That 
stand  of  his  is  now  being  upheld  by  New  York  State  Colonial  Dutch 
records  at  Albany,  which  correct  former  historians  and  so  coincide 
exactly  with  Mr.  Bergen's  view  of  humble  origin  for  the  Colonial 
ancestors.  Such  was  the  man's  supreme  courage.  His  work  as  his- 
torian was  not  fully  understood  while  he  toiled.  It  is  only  now,  after 
years  have  elapsed,  that  New  Utrecht  realized  all  he  accomplished  in  its 
behalf.  Notes  he  left  may  some  day  see  type.  When  this  happens  a 

146 


warm  welcome  will  be  given  such  a  volume.  Teunis  G.  Bergen  was 
no  ordinary  man  of  moods  and  tenses.  He  had  a  duty — a  truth — to 
present,  and  he  presented  it.  His  death,  April  24,  1881,  was  un- 
expected and  lamented. 

His  son,  Mr.  Van  Brunt  Bergen,  who  resides  on  the  Shore  Road, 
Bay  Ridge,  differs  considerably  from  his  Father.  Instead  of  writing 
history  he  talks  it ;  instead  of  delving  into  the  long  ago  past,  he  keeps 
pace  with  the  progressive  present.  As  a  public  man  in  Brooklyn,  he 
is  prominently  known.  Speaking  of  the  old  Township  where  he 
resides  he  has  said,  "Why,  of  course  it  is  largely  a  matter  of  senti- 
ment with  us,  these  recent  changes  throughout  the  place.  As  time 
goes  along  and  progress  comes,  we  have  to  submit  to  it.  It  is,  in 
fact,  a  submission  to  progress,  not  one  of  liking.  We  descendants 
of  those  early  settlers  like  the  old  times  best.  That  is  past,  however. 
The  new  is  with  us.  The  transitional  stage  is  not  a  pleasant  one. 

"Another  condition,  while  the  city  is  being  built  new  streets  and 
avenues  destroy  the  old  landmarks,  so  carefully  raised  and  cared  for 
by  our  forefathers.  No,  we  do  not  pretend  to  like  to  see  their  utter 
destruction.  Why  pretend  what  is  not  felt?  Our  Shore  Road  is  now 
a  city  street  where  10  years  ago  there  were  briars  and  wild  flowers  grow- 
ing in  untrained  beauty.  There  were  cedar  trees  on  the  river  bank,  too. 
Progress  must  come  but  it  will  take  several  generations  to  crowd  out  the 
sentiment.  We  cannot  go  back :  we  must  go  forward.  The  past  is  gone : 
the  present  is  with  us,  but  sentiment  stands  first  in  the  hearts  of  we  older 
residents  of  New  Utrecht." 

And  so  it  would  seem  with  Mr.  Bergen.  He  remembered  one  tree  in 
particular  that  stood  near  New  Utrecht  Avenue,  between  5Oth  and  6oth 
Streets,  and  so  admired  its  magnificent  height  and  spread  that  he  had  a 
picture  taken  of  it.  With  city  progress  the  tree  was  cut  down  but  the 
picture  tells  the  story.  This  tree  shaded  many  a  weary  pedestrian  along 
that  route  in  summer  time,  while  in  winter  it  was  a  favorite  playground 
for  the  children.  Mr.  Van  Brunt  is  an  "out  door"  man,  as  it  were, 
liking  dogs,  horses,  firearms,  military.  He  has  intense  respect  for 
history  but  no  love  as  his  father  had.  Seated  in  the  library  of  his 
home  on  the  Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge,  Mr.  Bergen  talked  of  his  dogs, 
telling  of  "Scotty,"  who  was  friend  and  companion  for  16  years.  Then 
"Taffy,"  a  Cocker  Spaniel,  reigned  for  13  years.  It  seems  that 
"Taffy's"  place  in  the  family's  affections  have  not  been  taken  as  yet. 
Mr.  Bergen  had  his  portrait  painted,  which  reminder  of  Taffy  hangs 
prominently  in  the  beautiful  library  room  where  his  master  works 
at  desk.  When  the  Bergen  family  went  to  Europe  on  a  pleasure  trip 
some  years  ago,  it  was  not  convenient  to  take  Taffy  along,  so  the  big 
homestead  on  the  Shore  Road  was  kept  open  just  for  Taffy's  comfort. 

147 


"Taffy  was  a  Welshman,  Taffy  was  a — No,  not  the  usual  finish,"  for 
Mr.  Bergen  laughed  and  finished  with  "Just  say  that  Taffy  was — a 
Spaniel."  Thus  does  Taffy's  biography  creep  into  history  because 
he  lies  buried  in  historic  ground,  under  some  tall  bushes  that  grow  on 
the  lawn  right  in  front  of  the  library  window.  There,  too,  reposes 
"Scotty."  There  is  one  stranger  in  the  plot,  a  poor  dog  run  over  by 
an  automobile  and  killed.  Still  another  is  the  dog  that  was  owned 
by  Dr.  Crane's  young  daughter  and  which  Mr.  Bergen  allowed  to  be 
buried  in  the  plot  of  honor.  A  canary  bird  and  several  cats  are  also 
buried  there.  Since  Taffy  passed  away  the  Bergen  family  took  to 
cats.  They  had  no  desire  to  fill  Taffy's  place.  This  accounts  for  the 
little  cemetery  so  near  the  front  path,  under  the  big  flowering  bush 
on  the  lawn. 

Mr.  Bergen,  who  has  many  memories  of  past  days,  lived  apart  from 
the  village  of  Fort  Hamilton  and  so  believes  he  never  even  saw  either 
Stonewall  Jackson  or  Capt.  Robert  E.  Lee.  He  recalls  during  Civil  War 
times  that  Fort  Lafayette  was  used  as  a  prison  for  Northern  rebels  and 
knows  that  Hawley  D.  Clapp,  imprisoned  there,  was  a  prisoner  who  was 
able  to  look  out  of  the  casement  window  of  the  Fort  and  see  his  own 
home. 

Mr.  Bergen  believes  his  branch  of  the  Bergen  family,  according  to 
tradition,  has  always  been  deficient  in  musical  talent.  Perhaps  the  story 
of  the  Indians  and  Hans  accounts  for  this — all  was  expended  in  that  one 
great  effort  and  no  music  left  for  Hans'  descendants.  No  musical  in- 
struments are  known  among  the  family  heirlooms.  An  honor  paid  Mr. 
Tunis  G.  Bergen,  of  Brooklyn,  nephew  of  the  late  Hon.  Tunis  G.  Bergen, 
was  in  his  selection  to  visit  The  Hague,  in  order  that  Holland  and  America 
should  agree  upon  the  "Half  Moon"  problem  for  the  big  Hudson- Fulton 
Celebration  of  September-October,  1910.  Being  a  student  of  the  early 
history  of  this  country,  he  was  able  to  lay  magic  fingers  upon  questions 
of  past  and  present,  so  that  the  little  vessel  all  New  York  greeted  with 
wild  enthusiasm  was  no  queer  stranger  to  him,  nor  to  Holland. 

Of  latter  days,  the  fine  old  Bergen  homestead  on  3rd  Avenue,  near 
the  present  39th  Street  Ferry,  was  demolished.  Its  slave  kitchen,  a  relic 
of  past  days,  was  saved  by  being  placed  in  Prospect  Park.  History  of 
that  part  of  Gowanus  belongs  naturally  to  Brooklyn.  March  of  progress 
took  the  Bergen  historic  home,  much  of  which  cannot  here  be  told. 
But  Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen,  nephew  of  the  New  Utrecht  man  of  that 
name,  occupied  the  house  until  its  destruction  about  1890-91.  Then  he 
and  family  removed  to  127  Pierrepont  Street,  Brooklyn. 

Mr.  Tunis  Bergen  of  Gowanus  Cove  and  later  of  Brooklyn,  has 
always  said  the  Gowanus  landmark  stood  prominently  out  as  the  house 
Gen.  George  Washington  did  NOT  visit.  In  Mr.  Bergen's  opinion  the 

148 


General  simply  could  not  get  there.  If  the  American  forces  were  be- 
yond (Fourth  Avenue,  now  so-called),  and  they  retreated  from  Gowanus 
Cove,  he  naturally  could  not  visit  the  Bergens.  The  old  Corteljau  house 
stood  where  Washington  Park  ball  field  existed,  on  5th  Avenue  and  4th 
to  5th  Streets.  Mr.  Bergen  believed  it  very  doubtful  if  Washington 
visited  the  Corteljau  house,  though  the  Corteljaus  so  claim  in  their  family 
records.  For  years  the  British  were  quartered  in  the  Bergen  home- 
stead by  Gowanus  Cove,  which  house  has  so  much  of  history  to  relate 
that  it  would  necessarily  come  under  the  head  of  a  Gowanus  chapter. 
Mr.  Tunis  G.  Bergen  is  a  student  of  history  and  collector  of  olden  time 
relics,  many  of  which  he  lost  in  the  fire  of  a  storage  company  at  the  time 
his  old  homestead  was  being  demolished. 

Reminiscences  of  the  Bergen  family  would  make  a  book  by  itself. 

In  connection  with  the  trip  abroad,  it  was  related  how  Mr.  Harmanus 
Barcaloo  Hubbard,  a  Brooklyn  lawyer  of  note,  was  viewing  an  old  church 
and  cemetery  in  Holland  when  the  attention  of  several  of  the  party  was 
called  to  the  fact  that  Mr.  Hubbard  was  idly  standing  on  a  vault  slab, 
on  which  his  own  name  of  Barcaloo  appeared.  It  was  quite  true.  There 
was  actually  the  name  of  a  Harmanus  Barcaloo  who  died  in  the  I5th 
Century.  It  very  strangely  proved  to  Mr.  Hubbard  his  genuine  Dutch 
ancestry. 

Speaking  of  his  father's  historic  writings  and  town  services,  Mr. 
Bergen  stated  he  believed  that  O'Callaghan's  was  the  best  interpretation 
of  the  old  Dutch  language  as  it  was  used  in  Colonial  and  Revolutionary 
days  in  New  York  State.  Mr.  O'Callaghan  died  some  20  or  25  years  ago 
but  left  valuable  writings  at  Albany.  Another  student  of  the  Dutch 
language  was  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy,  of  what  HE  called  "Owl's  Head," 
Bay  Ridge.  His  writings  and  splendid  library  were  well  known  to  all 
his  admirers  at  the  time  he  resided  in  New  Utrecht.  But  Mr.  Bergen 
believes  the  real  "Owl's  Head"  to  have  been  where  the  Jaques  Van  Brunt 
homestead  now  stands  on  the  Shore  Road.  There  the  land  is  shaped  like 
an  owl's  head  and  there  the  fishermen  knew  the  original  head  to  be,  not 
at  Bay  Ridge.  From  his  father's  papers  it  was  positively  known  that  a 
Thomas  Stilwell  ran  a  Ferry  between  Staten  Island  and  6oth  to  86th 
Street,  or  what  was  then  called  Yellow  Hook.  This  was  during  1760. 
It  was  a  small  affair  and  controlled  to  some  extent  by  Denyse,  who  owned 
considerable  land,  stretching  between  his  home  by  the  Narrows  and  a 
point  to  where  the  John  I.  Bennett  farmlands  existed. 

CROPSEY. 

This  name  is  recorded  in  various  ways  in  American  history,  but 
later  day  descendants  of  the  American  ancestors  seem  to  have  settled 
upon  either  Cropsy,  Cropsey  or  Crapsey.  In  New  Utrecht  the  name  occurs 

149 


very  frequently  during  the  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  periods,  later  date 
prominence  settling  upon  only  a  few,  the  descendants  having  widely 
scattered.  No  general  uniformity  of  family  tradition  exists,  the  various 
branches  having  different  tales  of  long  ago.  It  is  believed  the  ancestor 
of  the  Cropsey  family  came  from  Germany.  Record  of  two  brothers  are 
found  in  America  and  a  "Melle"  is  mentioned,  but  this  latter  named 
may  be  a  son  of  either  of  the  two  brothers. 

During  1652,  Joost  Casperse,  Johannes  Casperse  and  their  mother, 
Geertje,  emigrated  from  Gronigen,  Holland.  But  there  is  no  Holland  town 
relating  to  their  name  nor  is  the  name  of  Casper  found  there.  Although 
emigrating  in  1652  there  is  no  record  of  any  land  patents  or  other  busi- 
ness transactions  before  1661,  though  in  1687  Joost  Casperse  and  Johan- 
nes, his  brother,  declared  themselves  residents  of  America  for  35  years 
past  (page  203,  Stiles  His.  of  L.  I.).  The  second  proof  is  the  manu- 
script record  of  Joost's  expenses  to  America,  per  old  Bergen  papers  and 
the  fact  that  he  was  employed  by  Michael  Hans  Bergen  (who  married 
Femmetje  Nyssen  or  Denyse  and  settled  at  Yellow  Hook,  now  Bay 
Ridge).  This  same  Bergen  property  was  afterwards  purchased  by  Joost's 
grandson,  Casper  Casparse  or  Cropsy.  Now,  after  a  lapse  of  over  200 
years,  the  name  has  been  honored  and  preserved  in  the  United  States. 
There  are  three  towns  in  witness  of  this :  Cropseyville,  N.  Y. ;  Cropsey, 
Neb.;  Cropsey,  111.;  and  New  Utrecht's  beautiful  driveway,  Cropsey 
Avenue.  Beside  this,  many  descendants  have  taken  prominent  place  in 
the  history  of  State  and  Country. 

Joost  and  Johannes  Casparse  settled  on  Long  Island,  but  not  until 
1661  does  record  appear  of  land  or  public  services.  They  signed  a  peti- 
tion in  Bush  wick  in  March,  1661-2  and  another  petition  at  Newtown, 
1662.  On  the  old  muster  roll  for  Bushwick  appear  the  names  of  private 
Joost  and  Johannes  Casparse,  Melle  Caspersen  and  Jan  Caspersen,  the 
latter  an  Ensign.  Date  of  1663.  In  1683  Johannes  was  assessed  for 
five  morgans  of  land  and  some  cattle,  amount  of  the  tax  being  £77. 
In  1687  Joost  and  Johannes  took  the  oath  of  allegience  in  Breucklen, 
stating  a  35  years  residence  in  America.  None  of  the  family  names  ap- 
pear on  the  Bushwick  records  in  1700,  showing  they  had  scattered  to 
other  parts. 

Of  Johannes  Casparse  it  is  known  that  he  emigrated  in  1652  and 
married  Maria  Theunis.  Was  assessed  at  Flatbush,  1675  and  1683.  He 
made  a  will  dated  1674.  He  took  oath  of  allegiance  in  Breucklen,  1687. 
His  children  were:  Barbara,  Jannetje,  Ann  Maria;  all  baptized  at  New 
Amsterdam  during  1667  to  1676.  (Nothing  more  of  this  branch  is 
known,  but  it  is  possible  the  Western  Cropseys  descend  from  Johannes. 
If  not,  then  it  is  from  John,  proved  son  of  Joost.) 

Joost  Casparse  emigrated  to  America  in  1652  and  married  on  June 


io,  1663,  Cathren,  daughter  of  Abraham  Lothie  and  widow  of  Pieter 
Prae.  Joost  married,  second,  Magdalen  Jans.  He  sold  land  at  Bush- 
wick,  February  28,  1667,  to  Hendrick  Welmson  and  in  1677-78  pur- 
chased land  at  Flatbush  from  Minnie  Johannes.  He  sold  land  to  Jan 
Dirckson  Van  Vliet,  October  30,  1684.  In  1687  he  took  the  oath  of 
allegiance  at  Breucklen,  being  in  America  35  years.  His  children  were : 

Johannes,  or  John,  bap.  March  16,  1679,  at  Flatbush; 

Cathren,  bap.,  February  6,  1681 ;  died  an  infant ; 

Cathren,  2nd,  mar.,  1700,  Johannes  Texel ; 

Jannetje,  bap.,  April  6,  1684; 

Joost,  first  born,  but  put  last  here  in  order  to  carry  out  the  Long 
Island  branches.  Joost  Casparse  died  May  21,  1729.  In  the  English 
records  and  writing  the  Dutch  Joost  became  Jasper  and  so  Casper.  Joost 
Casparse  died,  1729. 

He  married,  ist,  Maria  Storm.  Married,  2nd,  August  9,  1693, 
Wyntje  Jurex.  Married,  3rd,  July  28,  1695,  Jannetje  Jacobs.  Joost 
first  resided  at  Bushwick,  then  Flatbush.  He  was  in  Westchester  County 
a  short  while  and  then  returned  to  Long  Island,  near  Newtown.  His 
children  were: 

Derrick  Casparse,  settled  in  Delaware; 

Abraham  Casparse,  mar.  Abagail  Betts; 

David  Casparse,  mar.  Mary  Alburtis ; 

Gertrude  Casparse,  mar.  William  Miller; 

Melle  or  Melie  Casparse,  bap.,  January  31,  1694.  Believed  to  have 
settled  up  in  New  York  State,  but  no  proofs ; 

Jasper  Casparse,  born, ,  died  after  1777,  at  Yellow  Hook,  now 

Bay  Ridge,  L.  I. 

This  is  the  Casparse  or  Cropsy  who  settled  at  Yellow  Hook.  He 
purchased  lands  originally  owned  by  Michael  Hans  Bergen  located  by 
the  Sea  Beach  R.R.,  foot  of  what  is  now  65th  Street,  Bay  Ridge.  The 
first  Cropsey  homestead  was  built  there.  It  was  on  the  same  land  where 
his  grandfather  was  in  the  employ  and  bonded  to  Michael  Hans  Bergen 
and  must  have  appealed  to  Jasper  or  Casper  on  that  very  account. 

Casper  Cropsy  married,  May  27,  1749,  Margretje  (Maria)  Barkaloo, 
daughter  of  Harmonus  Barkaloo,  also  of  Yellow  Hook.  The  names  of 
Harmonus  and  Maria  have  been  generously  perpetuated  in  the  Cropsey 
family  for  many  generations.  In  1755  Casper  Cropsy  owned  slaves, 
being  accounted  a  well-to-do  resident  of  the  town.  In  1772-3-7  he  was  a 
Deacon  and  Elder  in  the  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New  Utrecht,  which 
was  of  course  the  only  church  then  existing.  In  July,  1766,  he  sold  land 
to  Denyse  Denyse,  putting  his  Mark  to  the  document  since  he  could  not 
then  write  English.  After  1777  no  trace  of  Casper  Casperse  or  Cropsey 
is  found.  He  died  before  1800. 


Judge  Andrew  G.  Cropsey  of  Van  Pelt  Manor,  now  of  New  City, 
N.  J.,  has  said  that  Casper  died  in  1806,  because  of  a  will  probate  known, 
but  had  the  1806  date  been  correct  there  should  be  some  trace  of  Casper 
up  to  that  time.  When  Mr.  Langley,  Sr.,  bought  the  property  by  the 
ferry  house  some  20  years  ago  (from  1896),  the  tombstones  in  the  old 
Cropsey  burial  plot  had  nearly  disappeared.  But  it  happens  that  only 
a  couple  of  years  ago  (from  1911),  that  workmen  employed  in  excavating 
on  the  former  Wm.  Langley  place  at  64th  Street  and  ist. Avenue,  made 
discovery  of  an  old  tombstone.  It  was  partly  covered  by  an  old  barn 
floor.  There  were  no  traces  of  any  grave,  nor  were  any  human  bones 
found.  Work  upon  the  Freight  Yards  for  the  Pennsylvania  R.R.  Co 
stopped  long  enough  to  rescue  the  historic  stone.  And  this  was  the  in- 
scription it  bore: 

"In  memory  of  Maria,  wife  of  Jasper  Cropsy,  daughter 
of  Harmonus  Barkuloo,  who  departed  this  life,  October 
I2th,  1799,  in  the  69th  year  of  her  age." 

News  of  the  discovery  of  the  tombstone  spread  around  the  neighbor- 
hood and  at  the  time  many  visitors  called  to  inspect  the  relic.  The  Bar- 
kaloo  family  residence  and  land  was  where  the  John  McKay  property 
now  exists,  he  keeping  the  Barkaloo  private  burial  plot  in  the  rear  of 
his  Shore  Road  residence.  According  to  law  the  little  cemetery  of  the 
Barkaloos  can  never  be  legally  disturbed  or  sold. 

The  children  of  Maria  and  Jasper  or  Casper  Cropsy  were :  Jacobus 
(James)  Cropsey,  Andries  (Andrew)  Cropsy,  Valentine  Cropsy,  Hen- 
drick  (Henry)  Cropsy,  Johannes  (John)  Cropsy,  Harmonus  (Harmon) 
Cropsy,  Wilhelmus  (William)  Cropsy,  Maria  Cropsy,  Sarah  Cropsy, 
Catherine  Cropsy. 

These  names  have  all  been  identified  with  the  history  of  New 
Utrecht.  The  book  "Our  Ancestors"  tells  their  genealogies  and  records 
in  detail.  James  Cropsey,  William  Cropsey  and  Judge  Andrew  G.  Cropsey 
have  left  enviable  records  to  tell  of  their  life  work.  The  Jacobus  or  James 
Cropsy,  who  died  between  1830-32,  was  a  hero  during  the  1776  war. 
History  tells  of  his  brave  act  in  crossing  the  Sound,  from  Huntington  to 
Norwalk,  Conn.,  when  few  others  would  respond.  Andries,  his  brother, 
built  himself  a  home  on  the  Shore  Road,  which  house  is  told  of  separately. 
He,  too,  was  a  1776  patriot.  Valentine  was  a  Deacon  in  the  Dutch 
church.  He  is  buried  in  the  old  village  church  cemetery;  likewise  his 
wife,  Sarah.  No  proof  of  1776  service  found. 

Hendrick  Cropsy  lived  to  be  101  years  old.  He  married  Mary  Peck- 
well  Jenkins.  His  1776  war  service  was  in  Colonel  Hawthorn's  regi- 
ment. Johannes  or  John  Cropsy  married  Polly  or  Mary  Bennett,  daugh- 
ter of  Mr.  Christopher  Bennett.  John  and  Mary  resided  on  the  present 

152 


35th  Street  or  in  the  district  between  Gowanus  Cove  and  Yellow  Hook. 
The  Christopher  Bennett  family  was  a  well  known  quantity  and  quality 
of  Bay  Ridge.  Their  home  still  exists  on  79th  Street.  Johannes  died 
1809. 

Harmonus  or  Harmon  Cropsy,  born  September  2,  1753 ;  died,  October 
7,  1830.  He  married,  ist,  Anna  Cowenhoven  and  married,  2nd,  Elizabeth 
Rezeau.  There  are  many  descendants  along  this  branch. 

Wilhelmus  or  William  Cropsy,  born  May  26,  1760;  died,  July  9, 
1806.  Married  Jane  Denyse,  daughter  of  Jaques  Denyse  and  wife,  Cou- 
bouche  (or  Jacoba,  the  name  was  called  in  Dutch.  She  was  only  child 
of  Jacobus  and  Jannetje  Emans  or  Emmons,  being  so  called  for  her 


Wilhelmus  Cropsy  Homestead. 

father).  This  Jaques  Denyse  was  born  November  28,  1735,  and  died 
January  28,  1812.  He  was  uncle  to  the  Jaques  Denyse  who  borrowed 
money  and  who  died  December  12,  1791.  Ths  two  Jaques  should  thus 
not  be  confused  in  reading  about  each  one.  Descendants  of  the  man 
who  died  in  1791  can  claim  Revolutionary  war  service  from  New  Jersey 
State  service  records  (page  420,  Officers  and  Men  of  N.  J.  in  Rev.  War, 
by  Gen.  Strycker). 

The  Cropsey  family  were  well  represented  in  service  to  their  country. 
Reminiscences  are  left  to  one  member  of  the  family  to  relate,  he  having 
dwelt  there  much  of  his  lifetime. 

COLONEL  WILLIAM  J.  CROPSEY. 

(REMINISCENCES.) 

Not  every  native  of  the  old  town  of  New  Utrecht  has  such  unusual 
recollections,  inclusive  of  military,  civic  and  general  township  matters, 
as  has  Col.  William  J.  Cropsey,  an  honored  resident  of  the  City  of 

153 


Churches,  even  better  known  and  loved  in  his  native  town.  To  few  men 
have  such  opportunities  been  given  and  to  fewer  still  has  that  rare  thing 
— accomplishment — been  granted.  Colonel  Cropsey  was  born  in  New 
Utrecht  village,  February  24,  1826.  His  father,  Jaques  W.  (son  of  Wil- 
helmus  or  William  Cropsey  and  Jane  Denyse),  lived  at  the  Narrows, 
where  he  bought  a  farm  and  took  his  bride.  She  was  Miss  Maria  Em- 
mons,  daughter  of  Andrew  Emmons  and  Phebe  Bergen,  his  wife.  Jacques 
was  born  November  15,  1782 ;  died  January  19,  1835.  Maria,  his  wife, 
died  January  2,  1884,  aged  84  years.  It  was  at  his  grandmother  Emmons' 
home  in  New  Utrecht  village,  just  West  of  the  first  Dutch  Church  and 
burial  ground,  that  the  British  soldiers  had  their  noted  feast  of  good 
things,  the  day  they  landed  near  the  Corteljau  house.  Mrs.  Emmons  had 
baked  that  morning.  All  the  home-made  good  things  were  stored  away 
when  the  Britishers,  traveling  toward  Brooklyn,  entered  her  home,  ran- 
sacked the  place  and  ate  up  all  the  food  she  had  so  carefully  prepared 
for  her  own  family  needs.  This  little  event  has  been  mentioned  several 
times  in  pariotic  papers  read,  but  the  exact  farmhouse  was  never  known 
until  now.  Colonel  Cropsey  declares  the  story  to  be  one  relating  to  his 
grandmother. 

The  Jaques  Cropsey  homestead  existed  close  by  the  Narrows,  now 
called  Fort  Hamilton.  It  was  originally  the  Isaac  Cortelyou  house.  The 
farm  lay  just  around  the  bluff,  where  the  United  States  Government's 
fortifications  stand.  The  Cropsey  farm,  like  others  along  the  water  front, 
combined  fishing  as  part  business.  Fine  catches  of  fish  were  made, 
especially  during  shad  seasons.  It  is  declared  the  fisheries  yielded 
thousands  and  thousands  of  shad,  the  best  ever  known  in  any  waters. 
Fishing  off  Fort  Hamilton  was  then  no  small  part  of  the  New  Utrecht 
farmers'  livelihood,  being  uninterrupted  by  ocean  travel.  According 
to  Mr.  Cropsey's  memory,  no  fish  of  the  present  day  can  compare  with 
the  fish  caught  those  earlier  days,  when  he  lived  close  by  the  Narrows. 

As  a  boy  he  recalls  attending  the  little  red  schoolhouse,  situated  near 
the  old  Dutch  Church,  then  Main  Street,  New  Utrecht  village.  It  was  a 
two-mile  walk  from  his  home,  but  was  nearer  than  the  yellow  school- 
house  at  Yellow  Hoek.  There  were  about  40  pupils  in  the  New  Utrecht 
school.  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferguson  taught  the  smallest  children.  Mr.  Fer- 
guson later  became  principal  of  Erasmus  Hall  School.  Young  Cropsey's 
first  day  at  the  little  red  schoolhouse  is  well  remembered  because  "Uncle 
Jimmy,"  in  the  person  of  Mr.  James  W.  Cropsey,  introduced  the  two 
new  pupils  to  several  of  the  girls  playing  outside  the  door  with  a  jolly, 
"Here,  girls,  are  a  couple  of  nice  beaus  for  you,"  which  introduction 
naturally  increased  the  boys'  bashfulness.  Belinda  Hegeman  and  Cath- 
arine Lott  stopped  their  play  to  laugh  at  "Uncle  Jimmy's"  fun.  The 
schoolhouse  had  very  hard  wooden  benches  and  only  few  school  sup- 

154 


plies.  Pupils  came  from  scattered  points  throughout  the  township  limits. 
The  Dutch  language  had,  by  that  time,  ceased  to  be  taught  in  the  two 
small  schools,  only  English  being  used.  There  were  catechism  lessons, 
but  no  music.  Colonel  Cropsey  remembers  that  while  his  parents  spoke 
Dutch,  they  always  discouraged  their  children's  attempt  to  speak  any- 
thing except  English.  He  believes  the  people  of  Flatlands  retained  the 
Dutch  language  longer  than  any  other  of  the  settlements  on  Long  Island. 
From  the  red  schoolhouse  (which  records  make  prominent  because  Gen. 
George  Washington  once  visited  it,  and  then  dined  across  the  street), 
young  William  Cropsey  next  attended  Erasmus  Hall  School,  at  Flatbush. 
Many  pupils  came  from  much  longer  distances  than  he,  some  riding  to 
and  from  their  homes  only  once  a  week,  thus  becoming  a  "school 
boarder."  Schooling  was  attained  with  far  greater  difficulties  than 
present-day  conditions  hold.  English,  arithmetic,  spelling  and  the  Bible 
were  important  to  the  parents  of  the  Dutch  communities. 

A  tender  reminiscence  is  that  of  his  schoolmate,  Peter  Wyckoff, 
who  lately  passed  away  in  his  historic  family  homestead,  on  Flushing 
Avenue,  Brooklyn.  Old  Mr.  Wyckoff,  nearly  blind,  would  often  sit  alone 
by  the  great  fireplace  in  his  sitting-room,  when  Colonel  Cropsey  entering, 
would  disguise  his  voice  to  a  deep,  deep  tone  as  he  politely  said :  "How 
do  you  do,  Mr.  Wyckoff.  I  thought — "  But  Peter  Wyckoff  would  slide 
his  chair  around  instantly,  laugh,  and  exclaim :  "Bill  Cropsey,  you  can't 
fool  me!  Come  in,  you  rascal!"  Whereupon  the  two  veteran  school- 
boys would  spin  yarns  of  long  ago  days,  including  present  days  as  well. 
Peter  was  said  to  forget  his  lost  eyesight  at  such  times. 

Boyhood  days  with  Robert  E.  Lee  and  Stonewall  Jackson,  as  well 
as  incidents  connected  with  many  of  the  then  residents  of  Fort  Hamilton 
Village,  are  recalled.  Mr.  Cropsey  was  about  eight  or  perhaps  ten  years 
old  when  he  played  with  the  sons  of  Robert  E.  Lee,  later  a  famed  General 
in  the  Civil  War.  Recollections  of  Mr.  Lee  and  his  family  are  that  it 
was  a  very  happy  family  circle,  and  Captain  Lee  a  fine  soldier  and  lovable 
man. 

Of  Stonewall  Jackson  it  is  said  that  he  was  a  man  who  had  eccen- 
tricities. One  fact  to  this  day  makes  Colonel  Cropsey  laugh  amusedly, 
for  Stonewall  had  a  regular  bedtime,  kept  religiously.  No  matter  where 
Mr.  Jackson  went  nor  whom  he  met,  when  the  clock  denoted  his  hour  it 
was  "Good-night"  for  Stonewall  Jackson.  It  is  said,  too,  that  he  was 
very  particular  about  his  eating.  As  late  fancy  suppers  had  been  proved 
to  disagree  with  him,  he  made  a  point  to  carry  his  own  crackers  and 
cheese  with  him  whenever  he  attended  a  social  or  military  function. 
It  mattered  not  whether  it  were  an  affair  of  State  on  Governor's  Island, 
or  Staten  Island,  or  Brooklyn,  he  carried  his  supper.  The  crackers  and 

155 


cheese  were  vouched  for  by  the  late  Mr.  Francis  Hopkins  of  Fort  Hamil- 
ton, who  also  recalled  many  eccentricities  of  Mr.  Jackson. 

Regarding  Mr.  Hopkins,  it  appears  he  was  coaxed  away  to  Jersey 
for  a  few  days  lest  he  be  put  in  Fort  Lafayette  for  his  words  against 
President  Lincoln.  "Francis  was  a  red-hot  Tory,"  is  said  of  him. 
"Friends  just  had  to  smuggle  him  away  for  a  short  time  until  the  excite- 
ment, then  uppermost,  had  cooled  somewhat.  Francis  Hopkins  never 
cared  what  he  said.  We  were  for  the  North,  of  course,  but  we  could  not 
see  Francis  put  in  Lafayette,  so  we  coaxed  him  away.  Our  telling  him 
to  be  quiet  had  no  effect.  He  was  only  kept  out  of  prison  by  going  to 
Jersey.  Then  his  friends  breathed  easy." 

Of  Civil  War  days  much  that  happened  is  remembered  both  in  New 
Utrecht  and  in  Brooklyn.  Mr.  Cropsey  had  never  been  anxious  to  be  a 
soldier,  the  profession  of  farmer  and  fisherman  occupying  all  of  his  time. 
But  when  summoned  to  jury  duty  one  day,  Stedman  Wright,  then  Justice 
of  the  Peace,  smiled  mischievously,  exclaiming,  "I've  got  you  now,  Bill ; 
you  can't  get  out  of  it."  He  meant  he  had  him  fixed  for  jury  duty. 
Thereupon  William  Cropsey  bethought  himself  of  how  Stedman  Wright 
should  not  get  him.  It  meant  six  weeks  loss  of  time.  There  was  only 
one  escape  possible — the  militia.  Accordingly  he  joined  the  Kings  County 
Troop,  a  crack  Cavalry  organization.  This  was  March  17,  1851.  He  told 
Captain  Suydam,  of  New  Lotts,  that  he  did  not  especially  want  to  be  a 
soldier  but  had  to  be,  adding :  "But  if  I  am  going  to  be  a  soldier  I  want 
to  be  one  right  up  and  down."  Captain  Suydam  explained  there  would 
be  a  meeting  of  the  Troop  the  week  following,  asking  Private  Cropsey 
if  he  could  be  ready  with  his  uniform,  and  so  he  appeared  as  a  member 
of  the  Troop  on  scheduled  date.  A  few  days  later  he  was  summoned 
to  Court  by  Judge  John  A.  Lott.  When  known  that  he  was  ineligible 
because  of  military  duty,  Stedman  Wright  appeared  dumfounded. 
"Why,  I  never  knew  you  belonged  to  that  Troop.  When  did  you  join?" 

This  story  of  his  start  as  a  soldier  is  told  amusedly.  His  election  as 
Captain  of  the  Kings  County  Troop  was  in  the  Hotel  conducted  by  Mrs. 
Schoonmaker,  opposite  Erasmus  High  School.  77  votes  were  cast;  76 
were  for  Cropsey.  The  other  vote  Cropsey  cast  for  Lieut.  John  Duryea. 
He  did  not  want  the  office,  but  unanimous  vote  made  his  acceptance  in- 
evitable. He  was  commissioned  Captain,  April  15,  1856.  He  served 
about  four  years.  Then  he  was  elected  Major  of  the  7oth  Regiment,  June 
19,  1860;  then  Colonel,  serving  ten  years  as  Colonel,  5th  Brigade,  2nd 
Division,  being  commissioned  Colonel,  February  23,  1863.  He  supported 
Lincoln's  policy  throughout  the  Civil  War  period.  He  spent  all  of  one 
summer  at  the  Armory  located  near  Fort  Greene,  recalling  one  particular 
Sunday  at  the  jail,  where,  with  all  his  forces,  they  waited  for  the  riot 
that  did  not  come.  The  negroes  were  a  part  of  the  Rebellion.  The  Troop 

156 


had  been  sent  to  an  important  post,  which  happened  to  be  the  jail.  The 
men  had  no  food,  but  after  skirmishing  around  they  managed  to  get  some 
cheese.  Mr.  Cropsey 's  one  regret  is  that  he  did  not  keep  a  personal  diary 
of  the  events  that  transpired  during  those  stirring  war  times.  In  1870, 
the  Kings  County  Troop  made  its  last  appearance,  being  soon  after  dis- 
banded, as  was  also  the  7oth  Regiment.  The  striking  uniform  of  blue, 
with  accompanying  shako  hat  and  plumes,  gave  the  militia  a  dashing  and 
brilliant  appearance.  It  cost  $40  for  epaulets  alone.  Uniforms  were 
costly  outfits.  Colonel  Cropsey  still  keeps  the  shako  and  epaulets  as  a 
memento  of  the  past. 

Many  events  connected  with  the  Troop,  which  comprised  about  sixty 
or  seventy  men,  are  related  in  an  interesting  manner.  One  was  Brook- 
lyn's big  event,  called  the  "Water  Celebration,"  in  honor  of  Brooklyn's 
water  supply;  then  the  Prince  of  Wales'  coming  was  another  big  event. 
The  Troop  was  ordered  to  the  Battery  at  6  A.  M.  The  Prince  was  to  be 
there  at  nine  o'clock  sharp,  but  did  not  land  until  4  P.  M.  There  was  a 
grand  parade  up  Broadway,  with  the  Troop  in  all  its  glory  as  chief  escort. 
That  was  a  proud  day  for  the  Captain  and  all  his  men.  Then  Kossuth 
came.  For  that  memorable  occasion  the  Kings  County  Troop  were  or- 
dered to  the  Astor  House,  New  York,  to  escort  Kossuth  to  Brooklyn. 
It  was  on  a  Sunday  afternoon.  The  uniform  of  the  Troop  included  no 
overcoats.  The  weather  was  bitter  cold,  one  of  the  coldest  days  Colonel 
Cropsey  ever  remembers.  Every  member  of  the  Troop  sat  on  horse- 
back, all  lined  up  on  Vesey  Street,  from  6  to  8  P.  M.  and  nearly  froze. 
But  they  managed  to  get  over  to  Brooklyn,  escorting  Kossuth,  where 
they  went  to  Military  Headquarters  somewhere  near  Fulton  Ferry. 

When  yellow  fever  broke  out,  in  1856,  most  of  the  inhabitants  re- 
siding on  shore  frontage  moved  inland.  This  epidemic  doubtless  had 
something  to  do  with  a  new  Cropsey  homestead  being  built,  which  was 
done  in  1857.  It  was  the  second  on  the  same  site.  Originally  the  farm 
had  been  a  Cortelyou  property. 

During  the  erection  of  the  new  house,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Cropsey  oc- 
cupied the  old  house,  moved  back  under  a  big  willow  tree,  from  where 
they  watched  the  modern  house  develop.  This  was  sold  in  1882,  being 
soon  after  acquired  by  the  United  States  Government  for  fortification 
works.  It  is  believed  that  no  picture  of  either  of  these  two  homesteads 
exist,  which  now  is  a  source  of  great  regret.  It  was  Jaques  W.  Cropsey 
who  built  the  big  sitting  room  on  the  home  he  bought,  making  it  the 
first  Cropsey  house  by  the  Narrows.  There  was  a  famous  open  fire 
place  in  this  sitting  room  of  his.  The  one  spare  room  was  where  Cornelius 
Woglum,  of  Staten  Island,  made  his  home.  Mr.  Woglum  was  then  em- 
ployed by  the  Government  in  work  affecting  the  completion  of  Fort 
Hamilton,  being  also  paymaster.  He  married  Miss  Sarah  A.  Cropsey, 

157 


youngest  daughter  of  William  Cropsey  and  Jane  Denyse,  and  later  re- 
moved to  Fort  Schuyler. 

James  W.  Cropsey  was  identified  with  the  work  or  building  Fort 
Hamilton.  He  and  Mr.  Woglum  were  also  joint  owners  of  the  first 
hotel  established  on  Coney  Island,  a  then  fashionable  resort,  where 
President  Van  Buren  was  entertained  one  season. 

The  yellow  fever  epidemic  naturally  had  much  in  connection  with  Dr. 
Crane  and  Dr.  James  Du  Bois,  or  "Jim,"  as  the  Colonel  knew  him. 
"Jim  was  one  of  the  bravest  of  men.  When  whole  families  were 
stricken,  when  others  fled  from  danger,  Jim  stayed  on  duty  until  he,  too, 
fell  a  victim."  All  who  could,  left  Fort  Hamilton  for  the  safer  dis- 
tricts of  Brooklyn,  but  some  could  not  leave.  Such  families  suffered 
heavy  penalties.  The  yellow  fever  germs  were  scattered  from  several 
vessels  anchored  near  the  Fort,  bedding  being  washed  ashore,  where  "rag 
pickers"  pulled  the  infected  mattresses  to  pieces,  thus  scattering  the 
disease. 

The  present  6oth  Street  was  considered  the  dividing  line  for  New 
Utrecht  and  Brooklyn.  Third  Avenue  was  the  first  public  highway  to 
Fort  Hamilton,  and  Peter  Bennett  ran  the  first  stage  line  along  this 
route,  to  Gowanus,  where  25th  Street  was  the  changing  point  for  Fort 
Hamilton.  This  seemed  a  big  saving  of  time  over  the  former  stage 
route  from  Fulton  Ferry  via  Flatbush,  where  in  this  latter  case  a  change 
of  stage  and  horses  was  made  opposite  the  present  Erasmus  Hall  High 
School.  50  cents  was  paid  for  that  trip,  which  then  continued  by  way 
of  New  Utrecht  (Kings  Highway)  to  Fort  Hamilton  Village.  This 
took  almost  a  day.  Opening  of  Third  Avenue  seemed  a  big  convenience. 
Row  boats  formerly  went  up  what  is  now  Union  Street ;  Third  Avenue 
was  near  the  water's  edge.  All  that  is  changed  by  modern  dock  and 
dumping  work.  Gowanus,  a  separate  place,  seemed  always,  more  proper- 
ly speaking,  a  part  of  Brooklyn,  even  as  a  Colony. 

Scattered  along  this  line  of  roadway  were  several  historic  home- 
steads, the  Wynant  Bennett,  Schermerhorn,  Bergen,  Barcaloo,  DeHart, 
Delaplaine,  and  others,  and  so  on  toward  Owl's  Head.  This  latter 
point  the  late  Hon.  Henry  C.  Murphy  declared  to  be  positively  where 
his  home  existed,  near  65th  Street,  now  Bay  Ridge.  The  Van  Brunts 
of  the  Shore  Road  dispute  this  claim.  Owl's  Head  is  said  by  them  to 
be  by  the  Jaques  Van  Brunt  homestead  and  in  Colonel  Cropsey's  opinion 
this  was  the  true  location.  Speaking  of  changes,  if  he  had  ever  dreamed 
of  electric  cars  and  subways,  or  of  living  so  long,  he  would  have  kept 
a  diary  of  those  long  ago  days.  But  who  could  then  tell  of  the  wonders 
to  come. 

It  would  seem  there  was  but  little  music  in  old  New  Utrecht.  There 
was  singing  in  church,  but  no  organ.  He  does  not  remember  having  seen 

158 


or  heard  a  piano  or  any  other  musical  instrument  until  a  later-day 
period.  Whenever  a  dance  occurred,  it  was  always  "old  Torn  Barlow" 
who  played  fiddle.  Tom  was  a  black  man.  He  was  in  great  demand, 
musically.  In  fact,  no  dance  could  be  given  without  Tom.  How  he 
happened  to  own  and  play  a  fiddle  when  the  white  folks  had  none,  Colo- 
nel Cropsey  is  unable  to  say.  The  fact  did  not  impress  itself  at  the  time, 
but  now  the  wonder  is  how  and  where  Tom  obtained  his  fiddle.  He 
had  been  a  slave ;  all  the  negroes  had  been.  Upon  one  occasion,  when 
the  young  people  had  attended  a  dance  at  one  of  the  fine  Gowanus 
houses,  where  Tom  Barlow  was  orchestrarian,  some  of  the  New  Utrecht 
young  gentlemen  planned  a  "scare"  for  Tom.  When  the  black  musician 
emerged  in  the  darkness  and  was  journeying  along  the  road  homeward, 
a  white  figure  was  seen  to  wave  and  beckon  from  a  big  rock,  which  un- 
natural sight  caused  Tom  to  sprint  at  a  lively  gait,  much  to  the  amuse- 
ment of  the  perpetrators  of  that  joke.  The  darkies  were  known  to  be 
superstitious.  Tom's  musical  talents  were  all  needed  for  New  Utrecht 
'tis  related  of  that  Gowanus  "scare."  Pianos  and  music  came,  but  not 
until  later.  Parents  sang  in  Dutch.  No  doubt  the  songs  were  Holland 
airs :  they  are  not  recalled. 

As  regards  public  life,  Colonel  Cropsey  served  twelve  years  as 
Supervisor  of  Brooklyn  and  New  Utrecht.  He  was  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  Supervisors,  which  body  chose  the  site  for  the  present  Court 
House  on  Court  Square,  1860.  For  seven  years  he  served  as  Post- 
master at  Fort  Hamilton,  being  appointed  November  8,  1875,  under 
President  Grant.  Marshal  Jewell  was  then  Postmaster  General. 

When  New  Utrecht  streets  were  being  laid  out,  Cropsey  Avenue 
was  named  for  him.  He  also  served  18  years  in  the  Custom  House  at 
New  York.  Mrs.  Cropsey  was  Mary  V.  Church,  of  Fort  Hamilton. 
Their  son,  James  Church  Cropsey,  was  appointed  Police  Commissioner 
by  Mayor  Gaynor,  November,  1910.  October,  1911,  he  was  nominated 
and  elected  November,  1911,  as  District  Attorney  for  Kings  County. 
He  married  Miss  Florence  Greason  of  Brooklyn. 

COWENHOVEN;  KOUWENHOVEN;  VAN  COUWENHOVEN 

AND  (BENSON). 

This  name  has  been  so  variously  spelled  and  recorded  with  the 
one  of  "Conover"  in  New  Jersey,  a  part  of  the  old  Dutch  name,  that 
it  would  be  an  impossible  task  to  straighten  out  all  the  various  family 
branches  except  under  a  separate  genealogical  chart.  But  as  relates 
to  the  Town  of  New  Utrecht,  the  Cowenhoven  family  records  can 
be  briefly  touched  upon.  It  was  an  important  name  in  the  Colony. 
There  are  many  descendants  living  to-day  who  can  trace  a  clear  line 
back  to  the  common  ancestor  of  the  whole  family. 

159 


This  man  was  Wolfert  Gerretse  (van  Couwenhoven),  who  emi- 
grated from  Amersfort,  Province  of  Utrecht,  Holland,  during  1630. 
He  was  employed  about  this  year  as  Superintendent  of  farms  and 
plantations  by  the  Patroon  at  "Rensellaerswick."  Later  there  is 
record  of  him  at  Manhattans  Island.  June,  1636,  he  purchased  land 
from  the  Indians,  this  land  being  at  Flatlands  and  at  Flatbush.  The 
patent  was  granted  by  Governor  Van  Twiller,  1637.  Wolfert  Gerretse 
(van  Couwenhoven)  made  his  mark  to  documents — he  could  not  write 
English.  He  was  married  to  Neeltje .  His  death  was  after  1660. 

Issue:  Gerret  Wolfertse,  born  1610;  Jacob  Wolfertse;  Peter 
Wolfertse.  Records  tell  that  Gerret  Wolfertse,  born  1610,  emigrated 
from  Holland  with  his  father  in  1630.  Said  Gerret  resided  in  Flat- 
lands  and  married  Altie,  daughter  of  Cornelis  Lambertse  Cool,  of 
Gowanus.  Gerret  died  about  1645.  He  was  one  of  the  eight  men 
who  represented  the  People,  November  3,  1643,  when  they  sought 
relief  from  their  defenceless  and  poor  condition. 

A  patent  was  not  issued  for  his  19  morgans  of  land  in  Breucklen, 
on  the  valley  of  Gowanus  Kil,  between  lands  of  Jacob  Stoeffelsen  and 
Frederick  Lubbertson,  until  March  nth,  1647,  or  after  his  death.  He 
could  not  write  English  during  the  several  land  transactions  at  Flat- 
lands,  but  made  his  mark  to  documents.  His  children  were: 

William  Gerretse,  born  1636. 

Jan  Gerretse,  born  1639. 

Neeltje  Gerretse,  bap.  1641. 

Marretje  Gerretse,  bap.  1644  Oast  two  bap.  in  N.  A.). 

Of  these  children  it  is  recorded  that  Jan  Gerretse,  born  1639,  and 
later  a  farmer,  married  Gerendientje  de  Sille,  daughter  of  Niciasious 
de  Sille.  Jan  and  his  wife  resided  at  Breucklen  Ferry.  He  was  lame 
and  so  received  more  of  his  father's  estate.  He  signed  his  name  "Jan 
Gerretse  Van  Couwenhoven." 

In  those  days  Brooklyn  Ferry  was  a  distinct  place,  apart  from 
the  colonies,  further  inland.  Its  desirability  as  a  place  of  residence 
or  for  farmlands,  was  even  then  understood. 

Broadhead's  mentions  a  Jacob  Van  Couwenhoven  who  came  to 
New  Netherlands  on  the  ship  "Soutberg."  His  brother-in-law  was 
Covert  Loockermanns.  Both  men  were  taken  into  the  service  of  the 
West  India  Company,  afterward  rising  to  prominence  in  the  Province. 
Under  Gov.  Pieter  Stuyvesant,  a  Committee  composed  of  what  was 
called  the  "Nine  Men,"  was  formed  for  the  purpose  of  adjusting 
needed  public  works  and  buildings.  On  this  Committee  of  Nine  Men 
were  Augustine  Heermans,  Arnoldus  Van  Hardenburg  and  Covert 
Loockermanns  of  the  merchants ;  from  the  citizens  were  Jan  Jansen 
Dam,  Jacob  Wolfertsen  Van  Cowenhoven  and  Hendrick  Hendrickson. 

160 


From  the  farmers  were,  Michael  Jansen,  Jan  Evertson  Bout,  Thomas 
Hall.  Documents  which  were  drawn  up  by  these  nine  men  resulted 
in  three  of  them  being  sent  to  represent  the  people  at  The  Hague. 
This  was  the  first  delegation  so  sent  from  the  Colonies  to  the  Directors 
in  Holland.  The  three  were  Van  Der  Donck,  Couwenhoven  and  Bout. 
This  was  in  1649.  During  1650  the  return  of  Couwenhoven  and  Bout 
are  recorded. 

It  is  not  the  intention  of  this  book  to  cover  family  genealogies 
and  so  the  interesting  lines  of  descent  along  the  various  Cowenhoven 
branches  cannot  here  be  undertaken.  So  far  as  the  old  houses  are 
concerned,  there  was  one  on  i8th  Avenue,  north  of  the  Reformed 
Dutch  Church,  which  house  was  built  before  1700. 

Mention  of  Lady 
Moody  is  proper  in  that 
a  portion  of  her  land 
was  later  absorbed  in 
the  tract  later  called 
"Bensonhurst."  And  as 
the  Benson  family  are 
identified  with  the  Cow- 
enhoven family  the  two 
must  be  told  of  in  this 
connection. 

During  ravages  by 
the  Indians,  Lady  De- 
borah Moody  had  shown 
great  bravery.  In  com- 
pliment for  this,  as  well 
as  for  general  assist- 
ance which  she  had 


The  Lady  Deborah  Moody  House    (before  1700) 
(Bensonhurst)     (Benson   family;    then 
Walter  E.  Parfitt—iSgo) 


given,  Governor  Kieft  granted  a  patent  to 
Lady  Moody  and  her  son,  Sir  Henry  Moody,  also  to  George  Baxter 
and  James  Hubbard,  that  portion  of  Long  Island  adjoining  Coney 
Island.  It  was  called  by  the  Dutch,  "Gravesend."  Lady  Moody  was 
a  refugee  from  religious  persecution  and  was  the  one  titled  person 
of  note  who  settled  near  New  Utrecht.  Her  home  was  built  as  sub- 
stantially as  possible,  she  having  means.  In  1655  the  settlement  was 
attacked  by  Indians.  The  Dutch  settlers  sent  soldiers  from  New 
Amsterdam  to  aid  in  restoring  order  and  to  protect  the  Lady  Deborah. 
She  afterward  removed  from  the  settlement,  owing  to  the  Indian  out- 
breaks. 

Coming  down  to  a  more  recent  date,  the  property  was  acquired 
through  the  purchase  of  the  five  Benson  farms,  titles  being  passed 
by  Robert,  Susan,  Richard  and  Egbert  Benson  and  Margaret  Benson, 


ii 


161 


now  Mrs.  John  F.  Berry.  The  100  acre  farm  of  Ex-Mayor  Smith  was 
included  in  the  tract,  followed  by  portions  of  Van  Sicklen,  Wyckoff, 
McGraw,  and  Schmidt  homesteads  and  land,  which  comprised  a  total 
of  some  400  acres.  From  this  acreage  was  developed  the  "Benson- 
hurst"  property,  named  for  the  Benson  family. 

Among  all  the  old  homes  only  one  was  left  intact — the  Benson 
house.  This  later  became  the  property  of  Mr.  Walter  E.  Parfitt, 
noted  as  an  Architect,  who  bought  the  place  as  a  home  for  his  large 
family.  He  did  not  seek  to  dig  for  hidden  history  so  he  always 
declared.  One  portion  of  the  cellar  was  strongly  built,  which  made 
it  seem  very  likely  that  refractory  slaves  had  sometimes  been  con- 
fined there.  But  it  is  in  that  homestead  that  family  tradition  has 
made  George  Washington  once  a  guest  of  honor,  when  he  had  supper 
there.  Mrs.  Berry  has  one  of  the  plates  used  at  table  for  that  memor- 
able supper,  with  other  of  the  china  pieces  so  used. 

There  is  frequent  mention  of  a  Nicholas  Cowenhoven  in  connec- 
tion with  land  matters  of  the  Denyse  family  at  the  Narrows,  but 
family  records  must  supply  links  necessary  to  complete  the  genealogy. 

GELSTON. 

One  of  the  most  interesting  reminiscences,  because  it  has  so  much 
bearing  upon  the  military  side  of  Fort  Hamilton,  is  that  of  Mrs. 
George  S.  Gelston  and  her  daughter,  Miss  M.  Antoinette  Gelston. 
From  a  womanly  point  of  view,  the  olden  time  happenings  are  re- 
viewed with  a  quaintness  of  recital  not  often  given  ordinary  recol- 
lections. The  Gelston  homestead,  close  to  the  waters  of  the  Narrows 
and  overlooking  the  Forts,  gave  its  occupants  the  advantage  of  know- 
ing and  seeing  much  of  what  transpired  around  them.  Mrs.  Gelston, 
who  was  Miss  Maria  Meinel,  married  George  S.  Gelston  in  1840. 
Together  they  established  their  first  home  on  Marine  and  Fourth 
Avenues,  Fort  Hamilton.  Their  children  were  born  there ;  George, 
M.  Antoinette,  Mary,  Henry  and  Lillie.  Their  ancestor  was  William 
Gelston,  of  Connecticut,  who  was  a  patriot  in  the  Revolutionary  war, 
he  being  only  19  years  old  when  he  enlisted.  He  was,  later  on,  a 
prisoner  on  the  ship  "Jersey,"  famed  in  history  as  the  foulest  of  all 
the  prison  ships  anchored  near  the  Wallabout.  William  Gelston, 
paroled  and  exchanged,  then  became  a  Privateersman  and  saw  service 
again,  this  last  time  along  the  Connecticut  River.  He  is  buried  in 
Connecticut.  Mr.  David  Gelston,  a  Cousin,  was  Collector  of  the  Port 
of  New  York  for  25  years,  doing  splendid  public  service.  The  big 
stone  mansion  built  in  1853  is  a  familiar  landmark.  In  summer  its 
front  yard  is  gay  with  blossoms,  shown  in  a  real  old  fashioned  garden, 
for  Miss  Gelston  has  never  had  any  other  kind  of  garden.  She  also 

162 


found  time  to  establish  a  Free  Public  Library  and  Reading  Room  in 
her  village,  having  only  a  set  of  "Dickens,"  a  few  paper  novels  and 
just  $5.00.  As  has  been  told  of  Fort  Hamilton's  first  Library,  it  was 
established  "on  Faith  and  Five  Dollars."  Later,  1,000  books  were 
donated,  then  aid  from  the  Bay  Ridge  Library  came  and  finally  it 
became  the  Carnegie  Free  Library,  which  Mayor  Boody  of  Brooklyn 
formally  dedicated.  Miss  Gelston's  work  and  thought  for  the  sick 
in  the  Hospital  of  her  Town  and  Garrison  village  has  been  commend- 
able and  unusual. 

Mrs.  Gelston,  while  being  90  years  of  age  at  the  present  time, 
is  yet  an  active  woman.     She  does  much  knitting  for  the  Church 


.         f| 

The  George  Gelston  Homestead,  by  the  Narrows.     (Built  1835.) 

Charity  Foundation  and  makes  beautiful  patchwork  quilts.  As  a 
younger  woman,  her  days  at  Fort  Hamilton  were  filled  with  activities 
incidental  to  epidemic  and  war.  Letters  she  received  from  soldiers 
who  had  spent  days  of  imprisonment  at  Fort  Lafayette,  she  treasures 
as  sacred  relics.  Nor  will  she  allow  any  picture  of  herself  to  be 
printed.  Yet  it  was  the  Gelston  home  that  sent  forth  courage  and 
cheer  to  many  soldiers  and  others  in  the  Town,  at  most  troublous 
times.  Hers  was  a  strong  and  Christian  character  at  all  times,  espe- 
cially so  under  martial  surroundings.  Life  at  Fort  Hamilton  has  been 
a  serious  and  earnest  one  for  the  family.  One  bit  of  memory  shines 
out  with  pretty  distinctness — the  grand  ball  held  at  Fort  Lafayette 
which  Miss  Antoinette  recalls  as  a  very  gay  affair  for  those  days. 
Guests  for  the  ball  were  rowed  to  the  Fort  in  small  boats.  The  Gar- 

163 


rison  Band  furnished  the  music  and  all  the  young  people  were  eager 
to  attend,  there  being  so  many  gallant  partners.  There  was  a  lovers' 
lane  arranged  on  one  side  of  the  outside  wall  of  the  Fort,  the  dancing, 
of  course,  being  inside.  The  night  being  extremely  warm,  the  ladies 
wore  very  pretty  dresses  of  gauze  or  light  silk.  The  whole  scene 
was  one  of  great  beauty  and  a  rare  treat,  as  balls  went.  How  quickly 
the  scene  changed  may  be  imagined  when  Miss  Gelston  remembers 
that  the  very  next  day  the  first  prisoner  of  war  was  within  those  very 
stone  walls  of  Fort  Lafayette.  His  name  was  Captain  Saunders. 
Many  noted  prisoners  soon  followed  him,  but  he  was  the  first.  The 
Mayor  of  Baltimore  was  there,  also  the  Mayor  of  Washington,  D.  C, 
as  well  as  Mayor  Wood,  of  New  York.  The  Fort  was  better  known 
as  the  "Bastile  of  America,"  during  the  Civil  War.  It  is  not  a  part 
of  history  that  any  suffering  or  extreme  personal  hardship  existed, 
Fort  Lafayette  being  largely  used  as  a  prison  for  war  and  political 
offenders.  Mrs.  Gelston  never  knew  of  any  suffering  there.  She 
should  know  because  the  Government,  as  a  great  privilege,  gave  her 
a  pass  to  send  food,  etc.,  to  the  prisoners  at  the  Fort.  Every  day  she 
sent  food  over  to  the  Fort  and  personally  visited  the  prisoners.  For 
those  services  she  afterward  received  many  letters  of  thanks  from 
discharged  prisoners.  Those  letters  she  positively  refuses  to  let  the 
public  read — to  her  they  are  sacred.  She  was  often  amused  to  find 
that  pies  sent  to  the  Fortress  would  have  the  cover  lifted  to  see  what 
the  pie  contained.  Chicken  or  other  dainties  for  the  sick  or  special 
prisoner,  would  be  invariably  opened  and  examined  before  it  was 
given  to  the  individual.  It  is  recalled  that  one  man  was  hung  at  the 
Fort,  one  day  at  noon.  His  crime  was  that  of  being  a  carpet  bagger 
and  his  name  was  either  J.  or  H.  Kennedy.  He  had  tried  to  burn 
Barnum's  Museum  at  Ann  Street,  New  York.  The  Gelston  family 
heard  from  Chaplain  Burke,  of  the  Army,  who  attended  the  prisoner 
to  the  gallows,  that  he  had  never  seen  such  a  death — Kennedy  went 
swearing,  using  the  most  vile  language  anyone  could  imagine. 

Regarding  the  yellow  fever  epidemic,  the  Gelston  family  have 
considerable  to  remember,  their  home  being  nearest  to  where  the 
anchored  ship  brought  the  disease.  It  is  related  that  General  Stanton, 
a  retired  Army  officer  who  resided  on  the  Shore  Road,  came  to  the 
Gelston  home  one  morning,  much  perturbed.  He  told  Mr.  Gelston, 
"just  look  at  that  vessel  over  there,  Gelston.  I  have  been  watching 
her — she  has  sickness  aboard.  We  must  get  her  away  from  these 
parts."  General  Stanton's  practised  eyes  had  not  failed  him  in  that 
instance.  It  appears  that  particular  ship  threw  over  mattresses, 
buried  some  dead  at  night  and  was  anchored  just  below  the  Fort, 
near  enough  to  send  contagion  to  the  shore.  It  was  not  until  some 


thirty  or  forty  New  Utrecht  citizens  were  ill  or  dying  that  strict  meas- 
ures were  taken  by  the  New  York  authorities  to  check  the  disease. 
Then  it  was  hard  work.  This  happened  in  1856,  and  for  two  years 
many  of  the  homes  along  the  Shore  Road  were  deserted.  Local 
help  was  strained  to  the  utmost.  One  who  died  was  the  very  man 
who  first  discovered  the  fatal  ship — General  Stanton.  He  waited  too 
long  to  leave.  Or  possibly  he  did  not  intend  to  leave  duty.  A  safety 
line  was  established  all  around  the  Town  and  nobody  was  allowed 
to  come  or  go  inside  the  Shore  Road  belt.  Mrs.  Gelston  took  her 
children  to  Quogue,  L.  I.  For  two  years  the  Fort  was  closed,  with 
only  a  few  men  on  guard.  The  Gelstons  remember  that  noble  work 
was  done  by  the  Doctors  who  remained  on  duty.  One  of  those  was 
Dr.  Bell,  of  Staten  Island,  in  the  Navy,  but  sent  to  the  Fort.  He 
had  the  honor  of  being  the  single  Doctor  who  did  not  believe  yellow 
fever  contagious.  Strange  to  say  he  did  not  take  it  himself  through 
all  his  work.  Both  Doctor  Crane  and  Doctor  DuBois  are  remembered 
to  have  sacrificed  their  lives  for  their  fellow  citizens.  Dr.  Roethe, 
a  well  known  German  physician  from  Staten  Island  Quarantine  Sta- 
tion was  also  in  New  Utrecht.  It  is  recalled  that  Paul  A.  Oliver, 
who  lived  in  the  Shore  Road  and  did  fine  work,  escaped  death  and 
to-day  is  one  of  the  wealthy  business  men  of  Wilkesbarre,  Pa.  Paul 
A.  Oliver  afterward  fought  in  the  Civil  war  and  rose  from  Second 
Lieutenant  to  rank  of  Brigadier  General. 

One  of  the  most  exciting  incidents  connected  with  the  Gelstons' 
life  by  the  Narrows  was  when  Fort  Lafayette  caught  fire  and  the 
seventeen  tons  of  powder,  with  bombs  added,  were  in  danger  of  blow- 
ing up.  The  whole  family  were  anxious,  in  fact  the  entire  community. 
It  happened  in  March,  and  the  wind,  according  to  Miss  Gelston's 
memory,  was  blowing  about  40  miles  an  hour.  The  hour  was  noon; 
she  was  very  much  astonished  to  see  smoke  and  flames  coming  from 
some  of  the  windows  of  Fort  Lafayette.  Other  members  of  the  family 
were  called,  when  Mrs.  Gelston  said  at  once  there  was  fire  inside  the 
walls.  Such  proved  the  case.  It  had  been  started  by  one  of  the  men 
cooking  his  dinner  and  in  careless  manner  letting  sparks  escape.  An 
unused  chimney  was  chief  cause,  too.  An  alarm  was  sounded,  then 
everybody  was  ordered  out  of  their  homes,  fearful  of  great  destruc- 
tion from  what  seemed  to  be  an  inevitable  explosion.  The  Gelston 
family  went  to  their  other  house,  back  in  the  village.  Mrs.  Gelston 
was  finally  missed.  She  had  returned  to  the  home  by  the  Narrows, 
declaring  if  she  were  to  be  injured  it  might  as  well  come  and  she 
have  her  best  dress  on.  That  was  what  she  said.  But  they  found 
she  had  every  intention  of  preparing  comforts  for  the  policemen 
whom  circumstances  had  compelled  to  make  headquarters  in  the  big 

165 


Gelston  homestead,  opposite  Fort  Lafayette.  There  were  meals  to 
be  prepared  for  the  visiting  men  and  others.  During  this,  people, 
soldiers  and  officials  were  waiting  for  what  did  not  happen — the 
explosion.  The  Governor's  Island  officers  came;  so  did  the  Brooklyn 
fire  fighters,  but  there  was  no  work  to  be  done  and  according  to 
memories  they  were  not  sorry  to  go  back.  It  is  recalled  that  at  this 
critical  point,  two  officers  from  Fort  Hamilton  determined  to  see  what 
progress  the  fire  had  made  inside  Fort  Lafayette.  The  name  of  one 
of  the  men  was  Lieut.  Thomas  Barker,  according  to  Miss  Gelston, 
but  she  has  been  unable  to  recall  the  name  of  the  other  brave  officer, 
which  is  deeply  regretted-  These  two  men  entered  the  windows  of 
the  Fort,  not  knowing  at  what  moment  their  life  would  be  snuffed  out. 
But  a  miracle  had  happened.  The  fire  had  receded,  so  report  was 
made.  Only  a  door,  with  a  keyhole  large  enough  to  admit  sparks, 
had  separated  those  17  tons  of  powder  from  ignition.  No  sparks 
went  in  the  keyhole  and  the  fire  strangely  swept  in  an  opposite  direc- 
tion from  the  wooden  door.  It  seemed  indeed  a  Providence.  Another 
way  of  accounting  for  it  would  be  that  the  wind  suddenly  changed. 
They  recall  this  as,  a  most  exciting  time.  Another  memory  is  of  the 
old  Simon  Cortelyou  house,  destroyed  when  the  Government  took 
possession  of  that  estate  and  enlarged  its  reservation.  Once  it  was 
told  that  Captain  Kidd's  treasure  was  buried  in  his  garden.  A  city 
clairvoyant  was  brought  down  and  she  went  in  a  trance,  telling  how 
the  treasure  was  truly  enough  buried  right  there.  They  should  dig 
for  it.  So,  of  course,  digging  was  next  in  order.  Miss  Gelston  believes 
nothing  but  extra  good  crops  resulted  from  that  great  upheaval  of 
ground.  At  least  she  never  heard  of  the  treasure  itself. 

When  the  Simon  Cortelyou  house  was  to  be  demolished  a  series 
of  pictures  were  taken  of  the  old  Dutch  farmhouse,  an  example  of 
earlier  days  along  the  Shore.  The  old  Denyse  Denyse  house,  which 
was  near  where  the  Ferry  existed,  was  a  part  of  the  Hamilton  House  as 
built  and  later  owned  by  Mr.  Gelston.  Miss  Gelston  knows  positively 
that  the  Denyse  homestead  was  incorporated  in  the  hotel,  the  whole 
structure  being  consumed  by  fire,  an  event  well  remembered.  The 
stone,  marking  either  the  doorway  or  else  a  mantel  and  inscribed 
about  Denyse  Denyse  and  Teuntje,  his  wife,  was  found  in  the  ruins 
of  the  fire  some  time  after.  Miss  Gelston  saved  the  relic  and  finally 
presented  it  to  the  Long  Island  Historical  Society  of  Brooklyn,  feeling 
it  to  be  of  historic  value. 

THE    CHURCH    FAMILY. 

When  Holland  and  Scotland  unite  in  one  person,  something  re- 
markable must  naturally  be  the  result.  Such  is  the  case  with  the 

166 


Col.  James  C.  Church  family,  identified  with  Fort  Hamilton's  history 
from  1837  to  date ;  the  present  occupant  of  the  old  homestead,  Judge 
Charles  W.  Church,  standing  out  prominently. 

Col.  James  C.  Church,  whose  home  was  in  the  district  called 
"Mapleton,"  now  i8th  Avenue,  Brooklyn,  married  Maria  Turnbull, 
daughter  of  Thomas  Turnbull,  whose  wife  was  a  Voris,  of  Gravesend. 
The  Turnbull  farm  existed  where  the  Sea  Beach  Railroad  line  extends 
toward  Bath  Beach.  The  Turnbulls  were  among  early  settlers,  being 
identified  with  the  first  Reformed  Dutch  Church  of  New  Utrecht,  and 
also  with  the  second  church. 

James  C.  Church  and  his  wife  removed  from  their  Mapleton  home 
(since  owned  by  Mr.  Aaron  Lott)  to  Fort  Hamilton,  on  what  was 
then  called  State  Lane,  now  Fort  Hamilton  Avenue.  Charles  W. 
Church  was  then  four  or  five  years  old,  being  born  at  Mapleton, 
December  29,  1833. 


Col.  James  C.  Church  Homestead  at  Fort  Hamilton 

The  Church  homestead  built  1833,  is  that  standing  to-day  and 
is  a  familiar  landmark.  Mr.  Church  established  a  general  store  at 
the  end  of  the  same  street.  He  sold  everything  from  a  needle  to  a 
load  of  hay.  He  also  had  other  business  interests;  a  wagon  shop, 
coal  and  lumber  yard,  and  finally  started  a  stage  route  from  Fort 
Hamilton  to  Fulton  Ferry,  by  way  of  Flatbush  and  the  old  Kings 
Highway.  Another  stage  route  was  started  about  1844,  through  Bay 
Ridge  to  the  Ferry,  while  a  branch  route  went  to  Hamilton  Ferry. 
This  proved  a  great  convenience  to  the  public.  The  fare  charged  was 
25  cents  and  time  consumed  varied.  Col.  James  Church,  who  was 
also  Post  Master  of  the  town,  carried  the  mails,  having  the  Post 
Office  in  one  corner  of  his  store  on  State  Lane,  close  to  the  water 
of  the  Narrows.  Being  a  man  of  great  activity  in  business,  Mr. 
Church  was  averse  to  doing  military  service,  yet  he  was  elected  first, 
Captain  then  Lieutenant  Colonel,  and  finally  Colonel  of  the  National 

167 


Guard  Regiment  of  Brooklyn,  and  served  nearly  six  years.  That  is 
how  the  title  of  Colonel  comes.  It  was  while  engaged  among  his 
numerous  business  helpers  that  one  day  he  conceived  the  idea  of 
teaching  his  employees  how  to  read  and  write.  His  son  Charles, 
then  a  young  student  at  Erasmus  Hall  School  in  Flatbush,  was  asked, 
"Eh,  Bub,  don't  you  think  you  could  teach  the  boys  at  night,  using 
our  dining  room  as  schoolroom?"  Bub  thought  he  might  at  least  try, 
which  he  did.  Not  being  a  disciplinarian  he  was  unable  to  cope  with 
the  spirit  of  mischievousness  among  some  of  the  pupils,  all  much 
older  than  himself  and  therefore  unmanagable  from  a  boy's  stand- 
point. One  night,  "Jim"  Flood,  who  was  present,  addressed  the  night 
school  audience  by  pounding  on  the  table  and  telling  them,  "Here, 
fellows,  you're  carrying  on  and  interrupting  things ;  I  mean  business 
here.  If  you  don't,  then  let  those  who  don't  clear  out." 

Jim  was  about  20  or  21  years  old  at  the  time,  and  a  powerful 
speaker.  It  was  Charles  W.  Church  who  taught  him  to  read  and  write. 
Later  he  went  far  West  and  there  became  the  famed  millionaire  "Jim 
Flood,"  whom  Western  histories  unite  in  honoring.  Another  em- 
ployee of  Colonel  Church  was  Dave  Jack,  who  also  went  West, 
becoming  rich  and  famous  as  a  speculator.  James  C.  Church  died  in 
1856.  During  his  Fesidence  at  Fort  Hamilton  he  was  in  close  touch 
with  many  noted  military  officers  stationed  at  the  Fort.  His  home 
was  the  scene  of  brilliant  social  gatherings,  for  his  two  young 
daughters,  Matilda  and  Mary,  were  in  society,  and  his  son  Charles  W., 
a  young  man  of  great  promise. 

Capt.  Robert  E.  Lee,  of  the  Engineer  Corps  (later  a  noted  General 
on  the  Confederate  side  during  the  Civil  War),  and  Stonewall  Jackson, 
then  a  Major  by  Brevet  of  the  Artillery  Regiment,  were  among  the 
friends  whom  he  loved.  It  is  told  of  Captain  Lee  that  he  was  a 
courteous  man  and  honorable  soldier.  His  home  life  was  ideal.  For 
a  while  he  was  a  guest  at  the  Church  home,  then  became  domiciled, 
with  his  wife  and  two  sons,  in  the  frame  house  on  Fourth  Avenue 
adjoining  the  Church  garden  and  owned  by  Mr.  Church. 

The  sons,  George  Washington  Curtis  Lee,  nicknamed  "Boo"  by 
his  Father,  and  William  Henry  Fitzhugh  Lee,  called  lovingly 
"Rooney,"  were  sturdy  lads  and  playmates  of  Charles  W.  Church, 
whom  he  still  remembers.  Charles  was  about  eight  or  ten  years  of  age 
at  the  time.  One  day  while  playing  together  in  the  barn,  "Rooney" 
became  mixed  up  in  the  hay  chopping  machine  and  lost  the  tips  of  his 
fingers.  He  was  cared  for  in  the  Church  homestead  and  an  army 
surgeon  dressed  the  wounded  hand  regretting  that  the  lad  must 
lose  his  finger  tips,  because  the  tips  had  not  been  quickly  enough 
replaced  on  the  wound.  These  mutilated  fingers,  Captain,  then 

168 


General,  Lee,  carried  all  through  his  life.  Later,  when  the  Civil  War 
came  and  Charles  W.  Church  was  reminded  that  a  Lee,  of  Virginia, 
was  among  the  prisoners  in  Fort  Lafayette,  he  wondered  if  the  man 
could  be  his  Lee.  "Why  not  ask  the  prisoner?"  suggested  the 
informant,  an  army  officer  of  Fort  Hamilton.  But  Mr.  Church  dis- 
liked doing  so.  Instead,  he  begged  the  officer  to  note  the  fingers  of 
the  prisoners  hand,  which  request  was  done.  Next  day  the  officer 
reported,  "He  is  your  Lee."  Then  Mr.  Church  made  himself  known, 
renewed  boyhood  friendship  and  every  day  sent  delicacies  to  Brig. 
Gen.  Fitzhugh  Lee,  of  Virginia.  It  is  told  that  when  General  Lee 
was  returned  to  the  South,  he  wrote  and  thanked  Mr.  Church  for 
his  great  kindness  and  hoping  to  return  favors,  released  a  Northern 
prisoner  whom  Mr.  Church  was  interested  in,  but  who  happened  to 
be  the  wrong  man  with  the  same  name  as  Mr.  Church's  friend. 

It  is  also  told  that  the  greatest  confusion  existed  in  military  and 
civic  circles,  even  to  this  day,  owing  to  the  fact  that  there  were  two 
Brig.  Gen.  Fitzhugh  Lees.  One  was  son  of  Gen.  Robert  E.  Lee  and 
the  other  his  nephew.  In  this  way  events  and  dates  of  the  appearance 
of  these  two  Confederate  Generals  were  often  strangely  misunder- 
stood. 

During  the  family's  residence  at  Fort  Hamilton,  Mrs.  Lee  kept 
house  in  Southern  manner  and  had  the  Virginia  "Mammy's"  of  book 
lore  aspect.  Young  Charles  Church  was  always  addressed  by  Captain 
Lee  as  "Master  Charles." 

The  recollections  of  Stonewall  Jackson  are  of  the  most  interest- 
ing and  amusing  kind.  Jackson  had  many  peculiarities,  according 
to  the  memory  of  Judge  Church.  One  of  them  was  that  every  day 
Major  Jackson  could  be  seen  busily  chopping  wood.  He  considered 
this  necessary  exercise.  He  was  a  man  of  very  strict  habits  as  to  bed 
time,  which  fact  was  well  known  by  all  his  friends  during  his  three 
years  stay  at  Fort  Hamilton.  Being  well  acquainted  with  the  eldest 
Miss  Church  (later  Mrs.  Dr.  Whiting),  he  was  often  at  the  James 
Church  home.  Once,  in  a  spirit  of  fun,  Miss  Church  and  several  other 
ladies  determined  to  engage  Major  Jackson  in  a  game  of  cards  so 
that  a  finish  would  carry  him  beyond  the  usual  bed  time,  which  was 
shortly  after  "Tattoo"  sounded.  The  ladies  were  warned  that  their 
plans  would  be  in  vain.  "You  will  see,"  declared  Mr.  Church.  But 
they  believed  Southern  Chivalry  and  card  games,  where  ladies  were 
playing,  would  surely  triumph  over  the  clock.  Not  so,  however. 
Major  Jackson  rose  from  his  seat  at  his  accustomed  bed  time  hour, 
asked  to  be  excused  and  actually  left  the  game  unfinished.  He  was 
known  to  be  particular  about  his  diet,  and  his  food  was  of  the  plainest 
description.  Regarding  the  baptismal  controversy  over  the  Major's 

169 


full  name  and  St.  John's  Church  record  that  it  was  "Thomas  Jefferson 
Jackson,"  Judge  Church  is  very  positive  this  entry  is  correct.  In 
further  proof  it  must  be  related  that  Miss  Church  once  asked  him, 
"Major,  what  is  your  full  name?"  whereupon  he  replied  in  that  quick 
decisive  way  he  had,  "Thomas  Jefferson  Jackson." 

Judge  Church  understands  the  positiveness  of  the  late  Francis  Hop- 
kins upon  this  subject,  for  the  two  old  time  residents  of  Fort  Hamil- 
ton always  disagreed  on  the  Jonathan-Jefferson  name,  Mr.  Hopkins 
always  insisting  there  was  no  mistake  about  Jonathan. 

Judge  Church  owns  an  excellent  likeness  of  Major  Jackson,  taken 
about  this  time,  but  has  none  of  the  Lee  family.  He  remembers  Mrs. 
Lee  as  being  called  "Mary." 

Memory  serves  him  better  on  old  Tom  Barlow,  the  musician, 
who  played  fiddle  for  every  dance  held  in  New  Utrecht.  Tom  was 
short  and  thin  and  had  a  nervous  way  of  humming  aloud  the  tune  he 
played.  He  lived  somewhere  back  in  New  Utrecht  village,  Judge 
Church  believes.  Once,  in  meeting  Tom,  Charles  ventured  the  remark 
that  he  seemed  to  be  getting  pretty  old,  when  Tom  smiled,  shook  his 
black  head  and  answered,  "I  kinder  recken  they've  forgot  me."  Judge 
Church  never  forgot  the  reply  and  so  the  musician.  He  thought 
Tom's  music  rather  "tough,"  as  he  remembered  it.  And  speaking  of 
music  made  the  Judge  reminiscent  regarding  boyhood  school  days. 
He  attended  the  "Yellow  Hoek"  school,  between  Bay  Ridge  and  the 
Fort,  a  short  distance  from  the  Judge  Van  Brunt  property,  now  the 
Crescent  Athletic  Club  House.  Peter  Rouget  was  then  Teacher.  He 
told  Judge  Church  he  had  learned  his  letters  all  in  one  day.  Mr. 
Douget  later  became  principal  of  a  Brooklyn  school,  where,  strange 
to  say,  Charles  W.  Church,  a  nephew  of  the  Judge,  attended  Mr. 
Rouget's  class.  The  little  schoolhouse  of  Yellow  Hoek  had,  after 
Mr.  Rouget,  a  Mr.  Fulton,  Dr.  J.  V.  D.  Berier,  D.  C.  Winslow,  then 
a  Mr.  Slater,  who  was  the  last  teacher  to  serve.  Mr.  Winslow  had  a 
wife  who  was  very  musical  and  together  they  endeavored  to  introduce 
music  in  school  work.  Charles  Church  was  made  Leader,  though 
he  declares,  he  was  not  aware  of  being  especially  musical.  He  remem- 
bers the  pupils  sang  from  a  little  book  of  songs,  and  that  the  intro- 
duction of  music  in  a  school  was  something  new  at  that  time.  From 
Yellow  Hoek  school  he  went  to  Erasmus,  then  graduated  from  Uni- 
versity of  New  York  in  1852,  in  his  igth  year.  He  was  22  years  old 
when  nominated  for  Justice  of  the  Peace  by  the  Democrats.  He  was 
also  made  a  member  of  the  Town  Board,  Board  of  Police,  and  Board 
of  Health.  In  July,  1856,  when  the  yellow  fever  came,  Dr.  Thompson 
was  Health  Officer  of  the  port  of  New  York.  Those  were  hard  days 
for  Mr.  Church,  but  he  rose  to  the  emergency  with  fearless  action. 

170 


He  first  compelled  Dr.  Thompson  to  remove  the  infected  vessels  to 
the  Southwest  Spit  buoy.  Next,  when  his  fellow  Board  members 
fled  the  Town,  Charles  W.  Church  remained  on  duty.  He  saw  many 
sad  sights;  had  quick  burials  to  attend  to,  visited  homes  where  the 
black  vomit  was  known  to  be,  yet  never  flinched  from  duty.  Super- 
visor of  the  Town  was  the  late  Tunis  G.  Bergen ;  Jeremiah  Van  Brunt 
was  Town  Clerk.  Justices  were  John  A.  Emmons  and  Stedman 
Wright.  They  all  worked,  but  the  epidemic  proved  fatal  to  many. 
The  Bergen  family  lost  heavily  by  death.  Cold  weather  finally 
checked  the  disease. 

In  the  Fall  of  1856  Charles  W.  Church  was  nominated  for  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  County  Superintendent  of  the  Poor.  There 
were  five  members  to  the  Board,  then  in  bad  repute,  owing  to  scandal 
regarding  extravagances  and  bad  management.  Justice  Church,  when 
apprised  of  the  nomination,  refused  it.  But  prominent  citizens  pre- 
vailed for  an  acceptance.  Ex-Mayor  Samuel  Smith,  Major  Powell 
(afterwards  Mayor),  Tunis  G.  Bergen  and  others,  and  Mr.  Church 
was  elected.  His  three  year  term  resulted  in  cutting  down  the  appro- 
priation from  $250,000  to  $150,000  for  the  first  year,  then  down  to 
$35,000.  He  has  always  regarded  this  as  his  best  public  work. 

The  fire  at  Fort  Lafayette  about  1868  was  an  eventful  time  for 
his  village,  and  he  recalls  how  the  tons  of  stored  powder  were  expected 
to  blow  up,  yet  did  not.  He  saw  General  Newton,  of  the  Engineers' 
Corps  of  New  York  Harbor,  also  General  Vogdes,  Commander  at 
the  Fort,  both  experts  and  asked  what  the  result  would  be  of  such 
explosion.  "It  is  utterly  impossible  to  foresee  the  result,"  declared 
General  Newton,  who  ordered  the  inhabitants  nearby  to  remain  in 
their  cellar,  and  gave  strict  caution  to  have  no  lights  in  their  homes. 
Mr.  Church,  from  his  office  near  the  shore,  watched  some  bombs 
burst.  In  preparation  of  what  might  follow,  he  telegraphed  the  Fire 
Department  in  Brooklyn,  and  they  sent  a  Company  with  Fire  Engine, 
to  Fort  Hamilton  to  subdue  flames.  But  no  terrible  explosion  or 
fire  occurred,  much  to  everybody's  surprise.  Mr.  Church  explains 
the  mystery  by  stating  that  the  shingles  left  on  the  Fortress  floor 
burned  themselves  out  and  so  failed  to  reach  the  powder. 

Later  day  acts  of  Judge  Church  was  the  making  of  a  short  cut 
road  across  the  Dyker  meadows,  connecting  Bath  and  Fort  Hamilton 
and  saving  a  three-mile  circuitous  route.  It  was  declared  an  impos- 
sible feat,  because  of  marsh  lands,  but  he  accomplished  it.  Up  to  1861, 
railroad  cars  did  not  go  beyond  Bay  Ridge  Avenue,  then  called  Pope's 
Lane.  The  Company  refused  to  extend  the  line  to  the  Fort  until 
Third  Avenue  was  graded,  which  was  done  through  the  efforts  of 
Judge  Church.  Before  1862,  the  railroad  ran  cars  through  to  Fort 

171 


Hamilton.  Although  Judge  Church  took  up  law,  he  never  actually 
followed  the  profession,  yet  was  always  considered  one  of  the  ablest 
men  at  the  bar.  No  decision  of  his  was  ever  reversed  during  the 
40  years  on  the  bench.  When  New  Utrecht  was  annexed  to  Brooklyn, 
he  considered  his  public  duties  ended.  It  was  his  sister,  Mary  V.  Church, 
who  married  Col.  William  J.  Cropsey.  Their  son,  James  Church 
Cropsey  was  Police  Commissioner  of  New  York,  so  appointed  by 
Mayor  Gaynor,  later  elected  as  District  Attorney,  November,  1911. 

Judge  Church  never  married.  He  resides  in  the  old  homestead 
amid  his  beautiful  garden,  and  is  a  fine  specimen  of  the  courtly  gentle- 
man of  past  and  present.  Any  reminiscences  of  his  must  necessarily 
be  brief  in  a  book  of  history  data.  His  experiences  in  life  would  make 
a  book  in  themselves. 

EMANS— EMMONS. 

Andries  Emans  emigrated  from  Leyden,  Holland,  May  9,  1661, 
in  ship  St.  Jean  Baptist.  Settled  at  Gravesend.  In  August,  1661,  peti- 
tioned for  land  on  S.  I.  Mar. .  Issue :  John  G.  (of  Gravesend) ; 

Hendrick  (of  N.  J.) ;  Abraham  (of  N.  J.)  ;  Jacobus  (of  Gravesend)  ; 
Andries,  Jr. 

Andries,  Jr.,  born  1677.  Mar.,  1693,  Rebecca  Van  Cleef,  of  Graves- 
end.  Bought  farm  in  New  Utrecht  of  Stoeffel  Romyn,  where  he 
removed  from  Gravesend.  Will  probated  January  6,  1729.  Issue: 
Henry  (died  young) ;  Johannes;  Andries  (N.  U.)  ;  Benjamin  (N.  J.) ; 
Jacobus  (N.  U.)  ;  Hendrick  2d;  Antie;  Ann;  Sarah;  Rebecca. 

Signed  name,  "Andries  Emans." 

Jacobus  (mar.  Jannetje  Cowenhoven,  dau.  Wm.).  He  died,  1735. 
Owned  and  occupied  his  father's  land,  bought  of  Romyn,  later  the 
John  E.  Lott  farm.  Issue:  Jacoba,  born  October  7,  1733,  who  mar. 
Jacques  Denyse;  died  February  14,  1825. 

Signed  name,  "Jacobus  Emans." 

It  was  this  homestead  where  the  British  soldiers  feasted  on  the 
baking  done  the  day  of  their  landing  on  American  shores,  August 
22,  1776.  They  confiscated  everything  and  took  possession  of  house 
and  stock. 

The  Emans  family  left  many  descendants  on  L.  I. 

BOGERT— BOGART. 

Tunis  Gysbertse  emigrated,  1652,  from  Province  of  Utrecht, 
Holland.  Mar.  ist,  Sarah,  dau.  Joris  J.  Rapalje,  and  wid.  Hans  Han- 
sen  Bergen;  mar  2d,  1687,  Geertje  Jans,  wid.  Derick  Dey.  Resided  at 

172 


the  Wallabout.  Mag.  of  Breucklen,  1663-67.  Issue:  Artje,  bap. 
1655  (mar.,  1677,  Theodorus  Polhemus)  ;  Catalynte,  bap.  1657  (mar., 
Nov.,  1679,  Jan  Denyse)  ;  Neeltje,  died  young;  Altje,  bap.  1661  (mar. 
Charles  Claasge  of  N.  J.)  ;  Annetje,  bap.  1665  (mar.  Joris  Brinkerhoff) ; 
Neeltje,  bap.  1665  (mar.  Cornells  Denyse) ;  Gisbert,  Adrian,  Grietje, 
Cornells.  Signed  name,  "Tenis  Gisbertse  Bogaert." 

THE   OLD   WHITE   HOUSE. 

This  means  the  Chandler  White  stone  house,  built  about  1775, 
with  alteration  by  the  addition  of  two  wings  at  each  side  of  the 
original  part,  about  1820.  Mr.  White  died  1856.  The  house  was 
occupied  by  Mrs.  R.  Cornell  White  and  Joseph  B.  White,  descend- 
ants. It  is  by  no  means  the  oldest  structure  in  the  Township,  but 
its  West  parlor  has  a  most  interesting  bit  of  modern  history  attached. 
During  1854  an  important  meeting  of  prominent  men  was  Held  in 
that  room.  It  was  for  considering  and  promoting  an  invention  that, 
later  on,  set  the  world  astir — the  great  Atlantic  cable. 

On  May  8,  1854,  the  following  men  assembled  in  the  West  parlor, 
by  invitation  of  Mr.  White:  Peter  Cooper,  Moses  Taylor,  Cyrus  W. 
Field,  Marshall  O.  Roberts,  Fredk.  N.  Gisborne,  Chandler  White. 
Because  of  Mr.  White's  illness  the  company  met  at  his  home.  Pre- 
liminary steps  were  taken  for  laying  the  Atlantic  Cable.  Peter  Cooper 
was  elected  President  of  the  Company.  The  entire  minutes  of  that 
meeting  was  owned  by  Mr.  Jos.  B.  White.  It  was  copied  by  Secretary 
Gisborne  in  an  old  account  book  and  bears  his  signature.  The  second 
meeting  took  place  May  23,  1854,  at  82  Broadway,  New  York,  when 
Mr.  Cyrus  W.  Field  was  made  President  of  the  enterprise  that  per- 
petuated his  name. 

The  old  "White  House,"  so  called  because  its  owner  bore  that 
name,  was  by  strange  contrast,  very  near  the  modern  building  of 
Neil  Poulson. 

MAJOR  FRANCIS  E.  EERIER. 

Major  Francis  E.  Berier,  who  was  a  direct  descendant  of  the 
Cortelyou  family,  was  born  at  Fort  Hamilton  and  died  there,  aged  77 
years.  His  early  home  was  on  the  site  of  the  Mr.  John  Robinson 
house,  Shore  Road  and  94th  Street.  His  mother  was  a  Van  Dyke. 
He  marriel  a  daughter  of  General  Stanton,  who  owned  and  resided  in 
a  charming  house  at  the  Fort,  which  property  was  later  acquired  by 
Col.  A.  W.  Johnson,  father  of  Hon.  Tom  Johnson,  of  Ohio.  Major 
Berier's  son,  DeLaguel  Berier,  survived,  and  was  a  resident  of  Ridge- 
field,  N.  J.  The  Major  served  as  Q.  M.  under  Robert  E.  Lee,  and  was 

173 


South  some  years.  Before  the  Mexican  war  Major  Eerier  was  in 
the  Civil  Engineers'  Department  of  the  Army,  and  during  the  war 
was  with  General  Lee.  Following  peace,  he  later  became  a  wine 
merchant  of  Pine  Street,  New  York  City.  He  was  one  of  the  old 
time  residents  of  Fort  Hamilton  and  recalled  much  of  his  Township. 
The  Bogart  family,  Hendrickson,  Barkaloo,  all  are  prominently 
identified  with  New  Utrecht  history. 

VAN   BORCULO— BARKALOO. 

This  name  ranks  high.  The  first  of  the  family  in  America  was 
Willem  Jans  Van  Borculo,  who  emigrated  from  Borculo,  province  of 
Gelderland,  Holland,  about  1657-60.  He  resided  first  at  New  Amster- 
dam (N.  Y.  City),  next  Flatlands,  then  Gravesend.  He  married 
Lysbet,  widow  of  Christoffal  Jans.  Issue :  Jannetje  W.  (married,  1679, 
Jan  B.  Van  Driest),  Cornelia,  Jan,  Willem,  Dirck,  Danul,  Coenrad, 
Lisbeth.  The  father  signed  his  name  "Wyllem  Jansen  Van  Borckeloo." 
Of  these  eight  children,  Willem  Van  Borckeloo,  Jr.,  is  the  New 
Utrecht  ancestor.  His  wife  was  Maria,  daughter  of  Jaques  Cortelyou. 
William,  Jr.,  took  oath  of  allegiance  in  1687.  Resided  at  Gravesend 
about  1696-98,  then  removed  to  New  Utrecht,  on  his  wife's  lands.  In 
1706  he  was  assessed  for  90  acres.  Issue  of  Willem,  Jr.,  and  Maria: 

1.  Jaques  Borckeloo  (settled  in  New  Jersey). 

2.  Willemitien  Borckeloo  (supposed  to  have  married  Jan  Nevins). 

3.  Harmanus  Borckeloo  (married,  about  1730,  Sarah  Terhune). 

4.  Helen  Borckeloo  (married  Michael  Bleuw,  of  New  Jersey). 

5.  Anna  Borckeloo  (married  Pieter  Luyster). 

The  father  made  his  mark,  "W.  B."  to  documents. 

The  above  third  child,  Harmanus  Borckeloo  (wife,  Sarah  Ter- 
hune), connects  the  John,  Valentine  and  William  Cropsey,  descend- 
ants with  Revolutionary  service  claim.  Harmanus  was  a  Second 
Lieutenant,  New  Utrecht  Co.,  Kings  County  Militia,  signing  declara- 
tion and  taking  commission  March,  1776  (page  120,  Onderdonk's  Rev. 
Inc.  of  Kings  Co.;  page  286,  Fernow's  N.  Y.  Archives).  Among 
Harmanus's  children  was  a  daughter,  Margretje,  or  Maria,  who  mar- 
ried, on  May  27,  1749,  Caspar  Casparse,  or  Cropsy.  (John,  Valentine 
and  William  were  their  sons — see  Cropsey  history).  The  old  Borckeloo 
private  cemetery  adjoined  the  homestead,  both  being  close  by  the 
Cropsey  lands.  The  former  is  included  in  the  property  (1895)  of  Mr. 
John  McKay,  Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge.  It  is  a  sadly  neglected,  rub- 
bish covered  little  spot,  near  the  future  McKay  Place,  where  some 
forty  members  of  this  family  were  years  ago  buried.  A  few  stones 
still  stand,  one  being  for  Jaques  Barkeloo,  the  man  who,  in  1794, 

174 


advertised  for  a  school  teacher,  capable  of  teaching  reading,  writing 
and  arithmetic  in  English.  This  was  the  introduction  of  the  English 
language  in  the  little  school  in  New  Utrecht  village.  There  are  no 
local  Barkeloos  left  now,  and  no  one  cares  for  the  hallowed  spot  where 
sleep  Harmanus  and  Jaques.  The  writer  could  only  reverently  copy 
the  scene  and  here  pay  tribute  to  their  memories. 

Nearly  fifty  descendants  of  the  first  New  Utrecht  Van  Borculo 
settler  are  buried  there.  Mr.  John  McKay  owns  the  property  adjoin- 
ing but  can  never  legally  own  the  cemetery.  It  is  a  secluded,  rubbish- 
covered  little  spot  on  Narrows  Avenue,  near  Bay  Ridge  Avenue,  yet 
overlooking  New  York  Bay.  Only  three  stones  now  remain,  being 
those  of  Jaques  Barkeloo  (born  1749)  and  wife,  Catharine  Suydam; 
also  Maria  Barkeloo,  wife  of  Simon  Cortelyou,  buried  in  1788,  1815 
and  1841  respectively.  This  Jaques  Barkeloo  established  the  English 
language  in  New  Utrecht's  Dutch  school.  And  in  this  cemetery  also 
sleeps  the  patriot  soldier,  Harmanus  Barkeloo,  whose  Revolutionary 
services  are  claimed  by  the  descendants  of  John,  Valentine  and 
William  Cropsey,  of  New  Utrecht.  Surely  this  hallowed  spot  merits 
a  reverent  care  the  writer  cannot  give,  yet  would  rejoice  to  see 
bestowed  by  a  united  family  composed  of  local  "Sons"  and  "Daughters" 
of  the  Revolution. 

"THE  BEECHES"  AND  THOMAS  FAMILY. 

One  of  the  oddest  and  to  them  the  most  pathetic  side  of  the 
progress  of  modern  times  in  the  former  Township  of  New  Utrecht, 
is  that  viewed  by  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  H.  Thomas,  residing  on  75th  Street 
and  Second  Avenue,  Bay  Ridge.  With  the  cutting  through  of  streets 
in  that  locality  their  place  called  "The  Beeches,"  was  literally  cut  in 
two.  Not  the  less  remarkable  was  that  their  famed  clump  of  beech 
trees,  aged  about  200  years  old,  have  been  left  standing  directly  in 
the  middle  of  what  is  now  74th  Street. 

Property  owners  thereabouts  have  been  loath  to  see  the  splendid 
group  of  trees  cut  down.  A  petition  was  even  circulated  to  this 
effect.  It  was  feared,  however,  that  progress  of  the  present  day 
would  scarcely  halt  because  of  historic  trees. 

"The  Beeches"  is  the  property  owned  by  the  late  Mr.  Benjamin 
C.  Townsend,  whose  ancestry  dates  back  to  Oyster  Bay  settlement. 
He  emigrated  from  that  place  to  Bay  Ridge  in  the  days  when  Hon. 
Henry  C.  Murphy  also  resided  in  that  section  of  New  Utrecht.  He 
and  Mr.  Murphy  were  firm  friends.  "We  call  our  place  the  Ex- 
Beeches  now,"  said  Mrs.  Thomas,  who  is  a  daughter  of  Mr.  Town- 
send.  "When  75th  Street  was  cut  through  it  took  away  13  rooms  of 

175 


our  house.  The  big  center  hall,  which  people  came  for  miles  around 
just  to  see,  because  it  was  wide  enough  for  two  teams  of  horses  to 
drive  abreast — a  thing  remarkable  when  this  house  was  built — that 
hall  is  now  the  side  of  our  house.  The  kitchen  side  was  cut  clean 
off.  So  were  the  beech  trees.  They  are  now  on  74th  Street. 

Our  rose  garden,  where  some  days  we  have  gathered  as  many 
as  280  roses,  is  now  on  the  other  side  of  the  street,  where  the  new 
Schultzheiss  grounds  are.  When  people  look  wonderingly  at  our 


"The  Beeches"  (before) 


"The  Beeches"  (after) 


house  to-day  and  exclaim  in  astonished  tone,  "Gracious !  why  did 
you  build  a  house  on  such  a  big  hill,  with  such  a  tremendous  stone  wall 
to  keep  you  from  sliding  off  the  hill?"  we  tell  them  that  the  Townsend 
house  was  all  right  before  74th  Street  went  through  to  the  Shore 
Road ;  that  the  25  foot  stone  fence  was  a  necessity.  The  Schultzheiss 
house  has  the  opposite  wall.  Is  it  not  a  dreadful  wall?  But  what 
could  be  done?  I  was  thankful  to  have  even  half  our  house  spared, 

176 


especially  the  old  hall.  All  this  work— this  so-called  Progress— has 
aged  me  ten  years.  And  to  think  of  those  beautiful  beech  trees  being 
right  in  the  middle  of  74th  Street— over  200  years  old.  They  are  the 
finest  specimens  of  natural  growth  trees  on  Long  Island,  so  we  have 
been  told.  There  are  about  20  trees  in  the  group.  The  streets  should 
not  have  been  graded  as  they  were.  "We  used  to  have  good  times  in 

New  Utrecht  but  now ."    Then  Mrs.  Thomas  went  on  to  relate 

how  those  former  days  were  passed.  She  remembered  how  Mr. 
Tunis  Bergen  would  come  sit  in  her  father's  summer  house  chatting 
enjoyably  upon  many  topics;  how  Henry  C.  Murphy  would  visit  or 
else  entertain  in  his  own  delightful  manner;  how  Brooklyn  seemed 


"The  Actual  Beeches" 

far  enough  away  for  going  there  for  an  afternoon  drive;  how  the 
flower  gardens  and  bush  lined  roadways  had  all  disappeared  for 
asphalt  and  cobblestones. 

One  of  the  Thomas  residences  was  built  in  1854  by  Mr.  McElrath, 
then  of  the  New  York  Tribune.  The  other  was  built  by  a  Mr.  Spencer, 
of  New  York,  a  dry  goods  merchant.  Both  houses  passed  into  the 
hands  of  the  families  now  owning  them.  As  for  the  beech  trees,  they 
are  uncommon  in  our  country,  being  rather  similar  to  those  found 
in  parks  or  gardens  in  England.  Possibly  that  is  where  the  seed 
came  from,  out  of  which  grew  the  group  that  made  the  74th  Street 
cutting  through  a  matter  to  be  halted.  The  grounds  of  W.  H.  and 


12 


177 


R.  H.  Thomas'  homesteads  are  notable  because  of  the  fine  trees. 
There  were  about  twelve  acres  to  this  parklike  stretch  of  beautiful 
ridgeland.  Nearby  is  the  Ridge  Club,  of  which  Mr.  James  A.  Town- 
send  was  President.  Its  location  is  72d  and  73d  Streets,  overlooking 
the  Bay  from  a  fine  site  above  First  Avenue.  Near  it  are  the  fine 
homes  of  Mr.  George  Schlehel  and  Mr.  Peter  Bogart,  both  well  known 
business  men.  The  Col.  R.  J.  Hinton  homestead  was  just  across  the 
street. 

This  locality  was  the  private  residential  part  of  Bay  Ridge,  while 
the  farmlands  lay  further  inland. 

The  Samuel  W.  Thomas  homestead  stood  in  the  midst  of  a 
beautiful  Park  along  Third  Avenue  and  the  present  75th  to  78th 
Streets,  but  is  now  on  an  elevated  piece  of  ground  with  a  row  of 
city  houses  in  front  of  the  big  homestead.  Mr.  Samuel  Thomas  has 
done  much  for  his  locality  and  for  the  Church.  His  recollections  of 
the  old  roads,  homes,  trees  and  people  are  enhanced  by  photographs, 
taken  when  at  leisure  and  with  the  sole  pleasure  of  being  able  to 
please  others  by  his  work  of  reproduction.  His  impromptu  lectures 
on  "Old  Bay  Ridge"  have  been  much  enjoyed  by  friends. 

THE   ANDRIES    CROPSY    HOMESTEAD. 

In  direct  contrast  to  "The  Beeches,"  with  its  magnificent  sur- 
roundings and  stately  trees  and  park,  back  in  1895,  was  tne  Andries 
Cropsy  house  on  the  Shore  Road,  near  where  74th  Street  would  be 
when  cut  through.  It  was  historic  but  forlorn.  On  March  26,  1895, 
it  was  burned  to  the  ground  and  so  one  of  the  most  picturesque  por- 
tions of  the  former  Shore  Drive  was  lost.  The  Cropsey  homestead 
was  a  familiar  landmark  and  had  been  photographed  and  painted  by 
many  an  artist  because  of  its  quaintness  and  true  Dutch  architectural 
construction.  The  house  was  built  about  1770  by  Andries  Cropsy, 
who  was  born  in  1750,  and  who  married  Eida  (Ida)  Ryerson,  of  the 

Wallabout.  Andries  was  son 
of  Casper  Cropsy  or  Casparse. 
The  house  built  by  Andries  was 
never  the  original  Cropsey 
homestead  as  has  been  often 
erroneously  told  or  printed. 
The  very  first  house  existed 
near  where  65th  Street  now  is 
and  was  the  home  of  Casper 
and  his  wife,  Maria  Barcaloo, 
both  of  Yellow  Hoek,  later 
called  Bay  Ridge. 

178 


Old  Andries  Cropsy  Homestead, 
Shore  Road,  Bay  Ridge,  L.  I. 


At  any  rate  Andries  Cropsy  built  his  own  home  on  the  Shore 
Road.  He  died  there  about  1800-01.  Close  by  his  place  was  a  Ferry, 
started  in  1738  and  kept  running  until  1760. 

It  was  his  son  Jacob  Cropsey  who  last  lived  in  the  home,  where 
he  died  in  1817.  Then  Mr.  John  I.  Bennett  became  owner  of  the 
property.  Mr.  Bennett  occupied  the  premises  and  lived  to  the  age  of 
80  years  when  he  passed  away.  Just  before  his  death  he  had  built  a 
new  home  and  moved  to  it,  making  the  last  occupant  of  the  old 
house  a  farm  laborer  employed  by  N.  M.  L.  Bennett,  son  of  John  I. 
About  1890  he  left  the  place,  when  it  soon  began  to  show  its  forlorn 
neglect.  Tramps  found  it  a  convenient  resting  spot  and  several  of 
them  were  arrested  for  using  it  as  lodging.  Then  Mr.  Simon  Steiner, 
of  55th  Street,  purchased  the  property,  the  house  being  named  in  the 
sale  price  as  of  no  value  on  account  of  its  neglected  and  damaged 
condition.  The  old  fashioned  door  knocker  was  cherished  by  a  Mr. 
William  Stillwell.  The  big  willow  tree  in  front  of  the  house  lent  an 
especial  charm  to  the  place,  the  branches  spreading  far  over  the  roof 
of  the  dwelling,  then  over  the  walk  in  front.  It  is  believed  this  old 
place  has  been  sketched  more  than  any  other  house  in  New  Utrecht. 
Students  would  often  come  from  the  city  just  to  put  it  on  canvas  or 
paper. 

It  is  supposed  that  tramps  again  were  occupying  the  kitchen,  for 
late  on  the  night  of  March  26th,  it  was  burned.  Thus  ended  one  of 
the  picturesque  sections  of  the  Shore  Road  as  it  was  long  ago. 

THE  "COPPER   HOUSE." 
(Mr.  Neil  Poulson's  home.) 

In  sharpest  contrast  to  the  olden  time  landmarks  speaking  of 
Holland,  was  the  new  home  built  by  Mr.  Neil  Poulson  on  the  Shore 
Road,  near  Q2d  Street,  Fort  Hamilton,  during  1890-2. 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poulson's  home  was  the  only  fireproof  edifice  in 
the  Town  of  New  Utrecht.  It  was  built  of  steel  and  copper.  Years 
ago,  architects  would  have  thought  such  a  feat  impossible,  but  Mr. 
Poulson,  of  the  firm  Poulson  &  Egar,  had  completed  the  New  World 
building's  copper  dome,  a  marvel  of  workmanship  at  the  time.  The 
copper  idea  was  carried  out  by  building  himself  a  house  on  the  same 
lines  of  structure  as  the  World  dome.  The  Shore  Road  site  was 
chosen  for  its  great  beauty.  Builders  all  over  the  country  were  deeply 
interested  in  Mr.  Poulson's  experiment. 

Everything  was  metal  save  the  furnishings.  Compared  with  the 
low-roofed  Colonial  and  Revolutionary  homesteads  of  the  locality, 
Mr.  Poulson's  odd  house  was  prominent.  Modern  method  of  casting 

179 


metals  by  electricity  differed  considerably  from  hand  hewn  beams. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poulson  shunned  any  publicity.  They  erected  a  beauti- 
ful home  and  modestly  occupied  it. 

Exterior  walls  were  entirely  of  copper.  Upon  a  customary  foun- 
dation a  wrought  iron  skeleton  was  placed.  Angle  irons  were  secured 
to  upright  framing.  Horizontal  angle  irons  were  at  each  sill  and 
door  frame,  extending  around  the  building.  The  angle  irons  were 
covered  with  spare  columns  made  of  copper,  then  riveted  to  the  angle 
irons  to  leave  an  edge.  Copper  panels  (3  feet)  were  riveted  to  the 
edges.  Some  panels  represent  (in  decorative  features)  America, 
Europe,  Asia  and  Africa. 

The  copper  work  was  done  by  galvano  plastic  process,  permitting 
delicate  designs.  After  emplacement  of  the  copper  panels  for  exterior, 
the  whole  was  backed  up  by  solid  brick  walls.  The  name  "Copper 
House"  was  accordingly  given  the  unique  structure.  Its  roof  is  of 
red  tile,  the  tower  likewise,  but  with  copper  finish.  The  balcony 
has  iron  columns,  plated  with  copper.  Its  open  work  frieze  was  made 
in  12  length  pieces,  then  riveted  to  the  angle  iron  house  frame.  The 
railings  are  very  beautiful  and  quite  weather  proof.  Entrance  is  on 
the  Northern  side.  Opening  from  the  main  hall  are  library,  parlor, 
and  dining  rooms.  Floors  are  of  tiles,  in  lovely  designs.  A  circular 
opening  denotes  upper  stones,  the  hall  circle  being  decorated  with 
iron  ribs  stretching  across.  Iron  network  over  the  portieres  is  hand- 
some. The  stairway  is  solid  metal,  decorated  also.  Dining  room  and 
breakfast  room  are  separated  by  wrought  iron  doors,  panelled.  It 
was  Mr.  Poulson's  thought,  so  he  once  told  the  writer,  that  a  break- 
fast room  should  be  "light  and  sunshiny  to  start  the  day  with."  It 
mattered  not  if  handsome  so  that  a  breakfast  were  eaten  under  bright 
cheeriness  before  beginning  one's  work.  With  this  feeling,  Mr. 
Poulson  had  his  breakfast  room  a  separate  apartment  on  the  East  side 
of  his  home,  with  practically  the  large  windows  letting  in  all  outdoors. 
The  nearby  conservatory  helped  along  the  idea.  For  dinner,  which 
was  more  formal,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Poulson  used  the  handsome  dining 
room,  heavier  in  finish,  with  music  box  playing  during  the  meal  a 
sweet  tinkling  amid  the  flowers  and  ferns  near  by.  Such  was  the 
master  of  the  Copper  House,  whom  few  understood  to  have  so  much 
sentiment.  When  he  passed  away,  May,  1911,  it  was  surprisedly 
announced  he  had  left  much  to  charity,  and  was  especially  mindful 
of  those  who  had  served  him  and  Mrs.  Poulson  in  their  home.  Mrs. 
Poulson's  death  preceded  his  by  several  years.  They  had  no  children. 
Under  will  probated,  May  8,  1911,  the  housekeeper,  Nicolene  Chris- 
tensen  was  left  $50,000,  and  Nina  Olsen,  a  domestic,  received  $5,000. 

180 


His  secretary,  Miss  Anna  Brush,  received  $20,000.  Gardener  and 
coachman  were  each  remembered. 

Neil  Poulson  was  a  man  of  great  modesty  and  retirement.  His 
home  was  his  castle,  and  Mrs.  Poulson  his  ideal  portion  of  it.  His 
heart  and  purse  were  connected  most  frequently  in  charities  that  few 
heard  of.  His  death  was  lamented  by  all  who  knew  him.  As  Presi- 
dent of  the  Hecla  Iron  Works  of  Brooklyn,  Mr.  Poulson  had  a  wide 
circle  of  acquaintances.  His  "Copper  House"  was  bequeathed  to  Mr. 
Wm.  N.  Dykman,  friend  and  comrade. 

Such  is  the  story  of  Neil  Poulson  and  his  home  on  the  Shore  Road. 

COL.  A.  W.  JOHNSON  HOMESTEAD  AND  FAMILY. 

Along  the  Shore  Road,  near  Narrows  Avenue  and  Fort  Hamilton, 
a  large  house  was  built  during  1889-90,  on  the  water  side  of  the  drive- 
way, making  the  architect  plan  a  home  where  its  owner  necessarily 
went  downstairs  to  bed  and  upstairs  to  his  entrance  door.  Col.  A.  W. 
Johnson,  ex-Confederate  officer  chose  the  site  because  of  its  natural 
beauties.  Its  cost  was  $60,000.  Mr.  John  H.  Steam,  of  Indianapolis, 
built  the  odd  house,  after  many  photographs  had  been  sent  him  of 
the  bluff,  the  Narrows  and  New  York  Harbor.  Colonel  Johnson's 
son,  Tom  L.  Johnson,  was  the  prominent  Ohio  politician.  Mr.  John- 
son, Sr.,  died  some  years  ago.  He  always  declared  his  20  room  home 
to  have  the  most  magnificent  view  in  the  world.  Being  a  friend  of 
Henry  George,  he  once  remarked  that  possibly  it  had  something  to  do 
with  being  thought  something  of  a  crank.  Mr.  George  frequently 
visited  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Johnson,  who  entertained  with  their  warm 
Southern  hospitality,  all  who  entered  their  home  as  guest.  They 
always  declared  themselves  "unfortunate  rebels — remnants  of  the 
South's  lost  cause."  Yet  despite  their  loved  South  loyalty,  they  made 
many  friends  at  the  fort.  One  of  their  standbys  for  time  was  the 
clock  on  the  steeple  of  St.  John's  Church  at  Clifton,  L.  I.  They 
had  a  "yacht  named  Single  Tax  and  one  Son — out  West,"  was  always 
told  neighbors  and  friends.  That  son  was  Tom  L.  Johnson,  Mayor 
of  Cleveland,  Ohio,  twice  Governor  of  the  same  State,  who  walked 
out  of  his  rich,  fine  home  when  financial  reverses  came  and  with  his 
wife,  returned  cheerfully  to  the  small  house  where  they  first  began 
their  married  life.  "We'll  start  over  again,"  laughed  he.  And  they  did. 
Many  stories  are  told  of  the  late  Mr.  Tom  L.  Johnson,  for,  sad  to 
relate,  he  died  April  loth,  at  his  home  in  Cleveland,  Ohio,  after  an 
illness  that  proved  his  courage  and  unique  character.  A  dispatch  of 
March  20,  1911,  told  this:  "Tom  Johnson  Better — Former  Mayor 

181 


Johnson  rallied  a  bit  to-day  and  was  stronger  than  any  time  since 
his  sudden  attack  last  week.  He  sent  his  valet  for  the  morning  papers. 
His  Doctors  had  particularly  forbidden  him  reading  any  account  of 
his  illness.  The  valet,  returning  with  the  papers  was  commanded  to 
read  them  through.  Any  attempt  to  omit  phrases  relating  to  John- 
son's illness,  showing  his  hopeless  condition,  failed.  Mr.  Johnson 
made  him  read  them  all." 

This  but  illustrates  the  wonderful  mind  of  the  man.  He  was 
four  times  Mayor  of  Cleveland.  Twice  a  Representative  in  Congress, 
22d  District,  and  was  father  of  the  three  cent  fare.  He  inherited  all 
his  parents'  spirit  and  energy  and  was  much  loved  by  all  who  knew 
him  personally.  His  remains  were  brought  to  Brooklyn  and  interred 
in  Greenwood  Cemetery,  next  his  parents  and  close  by  the  plot  of 
their  friend  Henry  George.  Mr.  Johnson  retained  the  home  he  gave 
his  father,  on  the  Shore  Road,  near  Fort  Hamilton,  and  his  estate 
still  owns  140  lots  of  the  original  180.  His  widow  and  married 
daughter  will  remove  from  Cleveland  to  the  New  Utrecht  home. 
Many  of  the  happiest  days  of  both  Mr.  Johnson,  Sr.,  and  of  his  son, 
Tom  L.  Johnson,  were  spent  on  the  Shore  Road.  It  is  fitting  they 
they  should  be  here  included  in  the  later  day  history  of  the  Township. 

LAFAYETTE  PUNCH  BOWL. 

Robert  T.  Mich-ell,  of  Bath  Beach,  came  into  possession  of  a  rare 
treasure  August  17,  1851.  It  was  the  huge  punch  bowl  from  which 
General  Lafayette  drank  at  the  banquet  tendered  to  the  illustrious 
soldier  August  16,  1824,  at  the  old  Washington  Hotel,  Bowling  Green, 
New  York.  The  present  Washington  Building  occupies  the  hotel 
site  where  this  remarkable  dinner  took  place.  It  marked  the  occasion 
of  General  Lafayette's  second  visit  to  this  country.  The  bowl,  which 
was  of  exquisite  china,  was  imported  from  France  expressly  for  the 
event,  and  was  a  beautiful  piece  of  workmanship,  as  well  as  being 
very  large  in  size.  It  held  32  gallons,  and  stood  three  feet  high  from 
top  to  bottom.  On  one  side  was  pictured  a  naval  scene,  with  blue 
sky,  water  and  flag-decked  ships.  On  the  other  side,  an  eagle  sur- 
mounts a  shield.  Two  American  flags  were  crossed  and  intertwined 
with  leaves.  There  was  a  portrayal  of  Castle  Garden  as  it  was  in 
earlier  days.  The  bowl  was  thus  inscribed: 

"Landing  of  General  Lafayette 

at  Castle  Garden 

* 

on  August  16,  1824." 
182 


There  were  old  walls  with  a  long  promen- 
ade where  people  once  flocked  to  listen 
to  Jenny  Lind.  These  pictures  were  all 
burnt  in  the  china,  being  delicately  col- 
ored and  of  lasting  quality.  Mr.  Mitchell 
was  frequently  offered  large  sums  of 
money  to  part  with  the  punch  bowl,  but 
no  amount  would  induce  him  to  part  with 
the  precious  relic.  Every  year,  on  August 
i6th,  Mr.  Mitchell  observed  the  famous 
banquet  of  1824  by  filling  the  bowl  to  the 
brim  and  serving  his  callers  with  a  re- 
freshing beverage  similar  to  that  given 
to  General  Lafayette.  Mr.  Mitchell's 
home  was  Bath  Avenue,  corner  igth 
Street,  Bath  Beach.  He  lent  the  bowl  to 
St.  Finbar's  Church  for  a  Fair,  the  bowl 

not   being  out   of  the   house   since   its  arrival,   forty  years   before. 

Whether  breaking  his  rule  had  anything  to  do  with  it  or  not,  is  not 

known;  but  certain  it  is  that  fire  soon  after  demolished  Mitchell's 

home  and  so  the  bowl. 


Gen.  Lafayette  Punch  Bowl 


CRESCENT    ATHLETIC    CLUB. 

It  was  the  Judge  Holmes  Van  Brunt  house  on  the  Shore  Road 
that  the  Crescent  Athletic  Club  of  Brooklyn  purchased  during  1890. 
A  summer  home  for  the  Club  was  thus  established  and  that  it  was 
on  land  overlooking  New  York  Harbor,  as  well  as  being  historic,  was 
an  added  attraction  to  many  of  its  members.  There  were  about  60 
acres,  a  commodious  house  and  with  various  alterations  given  the 
situation  was  ideal  for  the  Crescent  Club,  who  purchased  the  Van 
Brunt  place  for  $15,500.  It  has  been  told  of  the  homestead  that 
during  Judge  Van  Brunt's  occupancy  of  it  burglars  entered  one  night. 
Help  from  the  Holmes  Van  Brunt  house  (near  by)  was  very  speedy, 
with  a  result  that  the  burglar  named  "Mosher"  was  shot  and  mortally 
wounded,  his  partner  caught  and  the  burglary  attempt  foiled.  This 
man  Mosher,  realizing  his  end  was  near,  confessed  to  having  stolen 
the  child  Charlie  Ross,  a  famed  kidnapping  case  not  long  before,  but 
the  burglar  unfortunately  died  without  having  time  to  fully  establish 
all  the  facts  of  such  verbal  and  hurried  confession.  It  was  always  a 
great  source  of  regret  that  the  man's  life  had  not  been  spared  long 
enough  to  finally  establish  the  ultimate  fate  of  Charlie  Ross,  whom 
the  burglar  Mosher,  under  dying  breath,  declared  to  have  been  killed. 

183 


Judge  Van  Brunt  never  forgot  to  lament  this  fact,  though  not  the 
shooting. 

The  Crescent  Athletic  Club,  in  taking  over  the  handsome  prop- 
erty, soon  enlarged  its  summer  home  into  splendid  quarters,  where 
outdoor  sports  were  indulged  in  by  members  who  came  there  from 
city  homes.  With  the  gradual  change  of  New  Utrecht  from  a  country 
and  outlying  district  to  Brooklyn's  3Oth  Ward,  and  so  a  city  district, 
with  city  improvements,  a  change  of  summer  home  has  been  appar- 
ently needed  by  the  Club.  The  20  acres  devoted  to  tennis,  lacrosse, 
baseball,  football,  etc.,  have  been  encroached  upon  by  buildings.  The 
last  shooting  at  the  range  was  done  this  early  Spring.  The  golf  course 
has  quite  gone — the  Governors  realize  a  new  home  is  necessary  and 
accordingly  have  under  way  a  plan  for  securing  a  fine  property  at 
Glen  Head,  L.  I.  The  Bay  Ridge  property  will  be  held  as  valuable 
assets.  Mr.  Paul  Bonynge  is  President  of  the  Club  (1911). 

NEW  UTRECHT  ROD  AND  GUN  CLUB. 

Among  prominent  local  organizations  the  "New  Utrecht  Rod  and 
Gun  Club"  should  be  included.  Organized  in  1890  its  prosperity  was 
unprecedented.  Its  officers  were : 


President  Walter  F.   Sykes. 
Vice-President  P.  A.  Hegeman 
Captain  Donley  Deacon 

Among  the  "crack"  shots  were : 


Secretary  and  Treasurer  Mortimer  Vaji 

Brunt 
Directors  Jere  Lott,  R.  J.  Van  Brunt. 


J.  Lott  Nostrand 
Cornelius  Ferguson,  Jr. 
Jerre  Lott 
Dr.  S.  N.  Cook 
D.  V.  B.  Hegeman 
Peter  Hegeman 
Andrew  A.  Hegeman 


Garrett  W.  Cropsey 
Donley  Deacon 
Robert  Street 
Charles  Sykes 
Charles  C.  Bennett 
George  Nostrand 
Anson  Squires 


The  active  members 
Dr.  John  E.  DeMund 
Thos.  L.  Dickinson 
Geo.  H.  Bressette 
C.  Slater 
J.  Harding 
Edw.  Dexter 
J.  Keegan 
Jos.  Lake 
J.  Furey 
W.  Constant 
J.  E.  Roberts 
J.  Napier 
C.   Magnus 
Robt.  Kirkwood 
Dudley  Dickenson 
Dr.  Blankley 
Harry  Twyford 
F.    Kelly 
R.  Street 
H.  W.  Graves 
M.  S.  Dickenson 
Henry  Martin 
J.  Abrahams 


included — (1892)  : 

J.  Magnus 
W.  C.  Crolius 
F.  A.  Beer 
H.  Ray 
L.  T.  Estey 
J.  Harvey 
T.  R.  Nicholson 
Walter  Sykes 
A.  E.  Hassell 

F.  Sykes 

Thornton  Hopkins 
Cornelius  Furguson,  Jr. 
Wm.  B.  Hatfield 

G.  D.  Manning 
John  J.  Ward 
F.  C.  Marvin 
J.  D.  Boyd 

S.  Canfield 
Geo.  Beer 
Thos.  H.  Johnson 
M.  H.  White 
Chas.  J.  Doyle 
J.  M.  Dickson 

184 


W.  T.  Sykes 
R.  H.  Sherwood 
Harry  Cook 
G.  Bondies 
John  Koster. 


W.   Pitcher 
J.  T.  Morgan 
J.  Gill 
H.  Fisher 
S.  A.  White 

F.  W.  Styles 
Thos.  Costigan 
Frank  Blankley 
R.  Wendler 

G.  B.  Gerrard 
Geo.  Wykes 
A.  Wykes 
Geo.  Thompson 
W.  Clifford 

A.  L.  Sykes 
Sidney  A.  Noon 
J.  G.  Williams 
Mr.  Gaukrouger 
Paul  Jaurin 

B.  G.  McGwynn 

C.  F.  Turner. 


OLDEN   TIME   FERRIES. 

In  order  to  better  understand  the  relation  between  the  Ferry 
connecting  Manhatans  and  Long  Island,  also  New  Jersey,  and  thence 
in  later  years  to  Washington,  D.  C,  it  is  purposed  to  roughly  outline 
this  important  route  for  travelers  of  those  earlier  days. 

Some  interesting  data  tells  that  the  Ferry  House  and  16  morgans 
of  land  were  sold  by  Cornelius  Dirckson  to  William  Tomassen,  includ- 
ing the  Ferry,  for  the  sum  of  23  hundred  guilders,  cash  or  wares. 
This  house  and  garden  stood  where  Fulton  Ferry  House  now  stands. 

Witnesses  were  William  Koster,  Garreyt  Dyrcksen  Blaw. 

Signed  by  William  Tohanssen  and  Cornelis  Dirckssen,  date  (page 
42,  Fernow's  Colonial  Documents). 


Fulton  Ferry  (Colonial  period) 

Again  there  is  record  of  the  Ferry  from  Manhattans  to  Long 
Island  when  the  lease  expired  and  its  renewal  caused  a  proposition 
to  let  it  to  the  present  ferryman,  Egbert  Van  Borsum,  "since  those 
who  lease  the  ferry  are  poor  and  cannot  go  in  debt  to  built  a  scow 
suitable  for  transporting  animals."  It  was  figured  out  by  the  official 
Board  that  Van  Borsum  could  do  so  in  four  or  five  months'  time. 
The  Committee  appointed  for  the  Ferry  matter  were  Nicasius  de  Sille 
and  Johan  de  Deckere  and  they  were  to  bring  agreement  in  the  matter. 
Dated  May  28,  1658  (page  421,  Fernow's). 

Records  show  that  Ariantie  Bleeker,  widow  of  Johannes  Nevius, 
who  lately  held  the  Ferry  lease  in  Breucklen,  petitioned  for  a  six  year 
lease  of  the  Ferry.  This  was  granted  July  i,  1672. 

Begging  for  franchises  for  public  utilities  in  Manhattan  is  old 
as  that  city  itself.  A  Ferry  was  important  as  a  public  work. 

As  far  back  as  1674  a  spot  of  land  on  the  banks  of  the  Harlem 
River  was  valuable  as  a  landing  place  for  a  ferry.  John  Archer,  of 


Fordham,  laid  claim  to  this  "nock  of  land,  Humock  or  Island,  com- 
monly called  Papivinion  and  by  vertue  of  his  purchase  and  pattent." 
Governor  Lovelace  did  "setle  Johannes  Vervelon  for  some  years  to 
keepe  a  ferry  for  the  Conveniancy  of  passengers  betweene  the  Island 
of  Manhattan  and  the  maine  from  and  to  which  it  is  the  only  rohad." 
There  was  evidently  some  trouble  over  Vervelon  using  this  "nock" 
or  "humock"  for  a  ferry  dock.  In  the  end  Archer  sold  the  coveted 
spot.  "Now  know  yee,"  an  old  document  reads,  "that  for  and  in 
consideration  of  a  certaine  sum  of  money  in  hand  payd  or  secured  to 
be  paid  by  Matthias  Nicolls,  Secretaire  to  his  Royall  Highnesse  Gov- 
ernment, hee  the  said  John  Archer,  hath  for  himself  his  heirs  and 
executors  sold  his  right  title  and  interest  unto  the  said  nock  of  lands." 
It  must  be  remembered  that  after  crossing  the  Ferry  to  Breucklen, 
a  circuitous  route  was  taken  before  reaching  the  Narrows.  This 
route  lay  through  Breucklen  to  Flatbush  along  the  Kings  Highway 
to  New  Utrecht  and  so  to  the  Narrows  later  called  Fort  Hamilton. 
Rowboats  were  used,  or  even  hand  made  "scows."  Kings  Highway 
had  a  number  of  milestones  to  better  mark  the  route  from  Ferry  to 
Ferry.  In  front  of  Mrs.  Townsend  Cortelyou  Van  Pelt's  homestead 
on  i8th  Avenue  and  82d  Street,  exists  the  only  milestone  left  to  tell 
the  tale  of  such  journeys.  On  the  North  side  is  this  inscription : 

iol/2 

Miles  to 
N  York 

Ferry 
This  Road 

Returning 

15 
Miles 

On  the  West  side  of  the  old  Milestone,  facing  i8th  Avenue,  or 
New  Utrecht  Lane  as  it  was  then  called,  is  this  inscription: 

sy4 

Miles  To 
N  York 
Ferry 
This  Road 

To  Denys's 

Ferry — 2^2  Miles. 

The  date  of  this   Ferry  grant  was  October   13,   1740,  made  to 
Denyse  Denyse,  by  King  George  2d.     It  was  described  as  a  ferry 

186 


situated  by  the  Southerly  corner  of  William  Barkaloo's  land,  by  the 
Narrows.  The  original  patent  is  a  monstrous  sized  document,  with 
an  equally  monstrous  seal.  It  was  owned  by  the  late  Rev.  Hugh 
Smith  Carpenter,  D.D.,  of  New  Utrecht  and  descended  to  his  son, 
Mr.  Roswel  Carpenter,  same  place. 

Rev.  Dr.  Carpenter  always  cherished  the  Ferry  grant,  which  he 
heired  from  the  ancestral  line  of  Jane  Smith,  nee  Denyse.  Continuing 
along  the  Ferry  route  from  Narrows  across  to  Staten  Island,  the  long 
ago  traveler  then  reached  Rossville,  where  the  "Blazing  Star  Ferry," 
carried  passengers  across  the  Kil  to  the  Jersey  shore.  Thence  the 
route  lay  on  to  Washington,  D.  C.  Such  was  the  mode  of  traveling, 
with  time  no  consideration.  There  was  also  another  Ferry  across 
the  Narrows,  June  18,  1753,  called  the  "Upper  Ferry,"  which  plied 
between  Yellow  Hoek  and  original  Owl  Head  (Rulef  Van  Brunt's). 
This  ferry  was  kept  by  Nicholas  Stilwell.  There  were  two  boats,  one 
for  man  and  horse,  so  old  records  state.  There  is  mention  of  a  John 
Lane  who  ran  a  Ferry  from  Yellow  Hoek  to  Smith's  Ferry  on  Staten 
Island,  with  the  caution  "In  going  from  Flatbush  to  the  Ferry,  keep 
the  marked  trees  on  the  right  hand." 

There  was  only  one  Ferry  from  Yellow  Hook  to  Staten  Island, 
so  these  two  mentioned  Ferries  were  evidently  one  and  the  same, 
operated  on  different  dates  by  different  men.  Of  Denyse's  Ferry 
much  goes  down  in  history  relating  to  that  part  of  New  Utrecht  and 
its  connection  with  Staten  Island.  It  was  a  very  important  route 
during  the  period  of  the  Revolutionary  war.  Many  noted  passengers 
embarked  for  the  trip  across  the  Narrows  and  could  Denyse  Denyse 
tell  his  own  personal  reminiscences  of  those  stirring  times  there  would 
be  indeed  much  to  relate,  and  the  same  with  "Blazing  Star  Ferry" 
at  Rossville,  S.  I.  It  was  across  this  little  ferry  that  many  patriots 
went  to  New  Jersey  military  Regiments,  causing  names  of  Long 
Island  and  Staten  Island  families  to  be  found  on  the  New  Jersey 
muster  roll  for  1776  service. 

Just  so  numerous  land  transactions  occurred  between  these  three 
separated  districts,  separated  only  by  a  narrow  margin  of  water  and 
so  frequently  connected  in  business  and  military  ways. 

Almost  no  records  exist  of  the  Blazing  Star  Ferry.  Denys's 
Ferry  was  discontinued  as  progress  came  to  the  town  of  New  Utrecht. 
The  old  Denyse  homestead,  near  where  the  Ferry  existed,  was 
absorbed  in  the  Hamilton  House  and  later  burned  to  the  ground, 
leaving  no  outward  mark  to  tell  its  history. 

When  good  roads,  cars  and  finally  electricity  carried  passengers 
to  Fort  Hamilton  old  routes  were  forgotten. 

187 


SCHOOLS. 

The  Township  of  New  Utrecht  had  two  schools  of  its  own,  both 
established  by  the  Dutch  settlers  in  the  Township. 

The  little  red  school  house  at  New  Utrecht  village  was  built 
first,  the  little  yellow  school  house  at  Yellow  Hoek  (now  Bay  Ridge) 
being  second. 

If  there  were  about  40  pupils  in  the  first  established  school  during 
1840  to  1850,  and  probably  no  more  in  the  second  school,  the  total 
number  of  pupils  for  both  schools  could  not  have  exceeded  50  chil- 
dren in  total,  the  latter  part  of  the  1700  period.  No  mention  is  made 
of  the  pupils  in  any  of  the  records  found.  One  fact  positively  estab- 
lished is  that  Mr.  J.  M.  Sperling  was  School  Master  of  New  Utrecht, 
October  3,  1724. 

As  Mr.  Jacques  Corteljau  had  been  tutor  to  Mr.  Van  Woerck- 
hoven's  children,  they  residing  on  land  afterwards  mentioned  as  New 


First  Schoolhouse  at  Yellow  Hook  (second  in  New  Utrecht) 
(8?-88th  Streets,  Bay  Ridge") 

Utrecht  village,  it  is  most  likely  that  Mr.  Corteljau  was,  in  reality, 
the  first  Colonial  school  teacher  in  the  settlement  at  Najack.  As  he 
died  about  1693,  and  Mr.  Sperling  was  serving  as  teacher  in  1724,  the 
interval  between  remains  unaccounted  for. 

May  9,  1704,  it  was  ordered  by  the  authorities  of  New  York  that 
"no  Towne  laws  be  brought  to  Court  in  Dutch  or  any  other  language 
than  English." 

Mr.  Sperling  could  write  a  clear  good  English  hand  and  also  spell 
correctly,  as  evidenced  by  various  legal  documents  he  signed,  he  being 
also  a  Notary  Public  and  Commissioner  of  Deeds,  during  many  of 
the  land  transactions  in  New  Utrecht  during  the  1700  period.  But 
despite  the  order  from  New  York  the  Dutch  language  was  taught  in 
school  until  1776,  also  English.  Thus,  both  sides  were  satisfied. 

The  red  school  house  at  New  Utrecht  always  felt  itself  honored 
because  of  a  visit  from  General  George  Washington,  who  came  one 
day  and  so  left  a  vivid  memory  for  the  Townspeople.  A  bit  of 
history  thus  was  chronicled.  Not  all  his  remarks  are  on  record,  un- 

188 


fortunately,  but  young  Peter  Van  Pelt  was  patted  on  the  head  and 
told  he  must  become  a  good  man,  which  Peter  did :  what  better  than 
a  Minister?  Some  of  the  little  girls  were  smiled  upon  and  those 
smiles  have  become  family  boasts  among  the  descendants  of  those 
little  girls. 

That  same  eventful  day  General  Washington  completed  his  visit 
by  dining  in  the  house  on  the  opposite  side  of  the  road,  which  prem- 
ises were  later  owned  and  occupied  by  Judge  J.  Lott  Nostrand. 

This  was  a  proud  day  for  the  village  and  was  General  Washing- 
ton's second  visit  to  the  locality,  the  other  being  when  he  visited  the 
Benson  homestead. 

It  has  been  difficult  to  learn  the  exact  date  the  little  red  school 
house  was  demolished.  It  stood  near  the  old  de  Sille  house,  and  so 
near  the  center  of  the  original  village  of  New  Utrecht,  on  the  South 
side  of  Kings  Highway,  later  Main  Street. 

When  Yellow  Hoek  became  a  settlement  and  the  Narrows  was 
also  a  place  of  family  homes,  it  became  necessary  to  provide  a  second 
school,  one  convenient  to  those  residents.  An  old  newspaper  pub- 
lished at  82  Water  Street,  New  York,  August  28,  1794,  and  called  the 
Diary  or  Evening  Register,  has  an  advertisement  of  interest.  It  is 
most  quaintly  printed,  thus:  "Wanted — an  English  School-Master 
at  New  Utrecht,  Kings  County,  capable  of  teaching  reading,  writing 
and  Arithmetic.  Any  person  recommended  for  good  morals  and  sober 
deportment,  with  suitable  qualifications,  will  meet  with  good  encour- 
agement by  applying  to  the  subscriber. 

JAQUES  BARKELOO. 

May  22,  1794." 

The  Barkeloos  were  property  holders  at  Yellow  Hook  and  as 
Jaques  was,  therefore,  interested  in  the  school  near  his  home  this 
advertisement  for  a  teacher  was  probably  intended  for  the  little  yellow 
school  house. 

Jaques  Barkeloo  died  April  8,  1815,  aged  66  years  I  month  16  days. 
His  tombstone  and  grave  exists  on  the  John  McKay  property,  Bay 
Ridge. 

One  former  attendant  of  both  the  red  and  the  yellow  schoolhouse 
is  Mr.  Peter  Denyse,  Sr.,  of  79th  Street,  Bay  Ridge.  He  was  about 
seven  years  old  when  he  first  became  a  pupil  of  the  New  Utrecht 
school.  That  must  have  been  1838  to  40  as  Mr.  Denyse  was  born 
1831.  He  remembers  the  teachers  to  have  been  Mr.  Davenport,  Mr. 
Abel  or  Abeel  and  Mr.  Londen. 

Later  he  attended  the  Yellow  Hook  school,  which  was  more 
convenient,  and  there  had  only  one  teacher  whose  name  is  recalled, 
Mr.  David  Winslow. 

189 


The  Yellow  Hook  schoolhouse  was  located  about  where  87th-88th 
Street  now  exists,  or  near  where  Albert  Van  Brunt  then  lived. 

There  was  a  third  school  established  as  the  Township  grew  in 
population,  it  being  called  "the  Schoolhouse  by  the  Lane."  This  Lane 
was  where  I7th  Avenue  now  exists,  nearer  i6th-i7th  Streets.  With 
English  taught  in  the  first  two  schools  of  New  Utrecht,  it  was  not 
long  before  higher  English  study  subjects  were  desired.  Erasmus 
Hall  thus  became  the  important  school  for  miles  around  Flatbush, 
which  naturally  became  a  school  center  of  note. 

Old  Erasmus  Hall  has  many  a  history  within  the  walls  of  its  first 
building.  Nearly  every  descendant  of  Dutch  ancestry  in  New  Utrecht 
traces  school  days  back  to  finishing  touches  at  Erasmus  Hall,  follow- 
ing the  little  red  or  yellow  school  house  start.  Many  of  these  pupils 
have  risen  to  prominence  in  public  life,  but  they  never  forgot  their 
native  school. 

To-day  the  Public  and  High  Schools  of  Brooklyn's  3Oth  Ward 
are  among  the  best  in  Greater  New  York. 

MUSIC. 

During  recent  years,  music  in  America  has  become  so  well  culti- 
vated and  important  a  factor  in  educational  circles,  including  colleges, 
that  it  is  interesting  to  turn  backward  a  little  and  learn  something 
about  the  music  the  Colonial  settlers  to  America  really  had.  In  truth 
they  had  little  or  no  music.  Records  do  not  tell  of  any  musical  instru- 
ments being  carried  from  the  mother  country.  Not  even  the  May- 
flower, most  elastic  of  all  the  Colonial  vessels  to  these  shores,  had  any 
musical  instruments  on  board.  Nor  do  any  of  the  old  wills  or  other 
documents  include  mention  of  any,  though  all  sorts  of  household 
goods  are  mentioned  and  farming  implements  as  well.  It  is,  therefore, 
safe  to  assume  that  there  were  no  musical  instruments  in  the  homes 
of  those  Colonists.  The  very  first  mention  of  music  known  or  heard 
in  New  Netherlands  is  that  of  a  Trumpet.  It  was  played,  or  blown, 
at  a  banquet  held  August  8,  1636,  at  Fort  Amsterdam.  Record  has  it 
that  the  player  kept  up  such  a  noise  with  his  tooting  and  trumpeting 
that  speech  was  not  easy  to  be  heard,  whereupon  some  of  the  men 
present  insisted  the  Governor  should  demand  a  stopping  of  the  music 
noise,  which  was  done.  Who  the  musician  was  is  not  recorded. 

Other  Colonial  music  of  a  more  beautiful  and  effective  char- 
acter was  that  indulged  in  by  the  ancestor  of  the  Bergen  family — 
Hans  Hansen  Bergen — who,  surrounded  by  the  Indians  and  fearing 
capture  and  horrible  death,  managed  to  escape  into  a  tree  top,  from 
whence  Hans  sang  to  God,  for  deliverance.  The  Bergen  family  records 

190 


and  tradition  tell  of  this  Dutch  hymn  being  sung.  The  English  words 
are,  "In  my  greatest  need,  O  Lord."  The  singing  by  Hans  so  aston- 
ished and  charmed  the  Indians  they  requested  its  repetition.  They 
forgot  their  plans  to  kill  him  and  instead  set  him  free.  No  date  of 
this  occurrence  is  recorded. 

In  1673  the  Commissioner  for  Plantations  reported  to  the  Director 
in  Holland,  "There  are  no  musicians  by  trade  in  the  whole  Colony." 
From  the  trend  of  this  letter  it  would  appear  that  music  was  looked 
upon  as  something  not  needed  and  of  no  commercial  value.  During 
1687,  Francis  Stepney,  a  dancing  master  of  Boston,  was  ejected  from 
that  Colony  and  thereupon  made  his  way  to  New  Netherlands.  There 
he  was  promptly  notified  he  would  be  unable  to  practice  his  art  at 
New  York,  where  the  Authorities  forbade  any  such  lessons  being 
given.  Moreover,  he  was  told  he  should  qualify  and  show  if  he  were 
capable  of  supporting  himself,  else  at  once  leave  the  Colony.  The 
Dancing  Master  appealed  directly  to  the  King  for  "good  justice  in 
his  case."  What  answer  was  given  is  not  on  record.  This  would  show 
that  the  Hollanders,  while  heartily  loving  and  singing  their  "Dutch 
Lullaby"  for  their  home  circle,  had  strong  aversion  to  any  kind  of 
music  such  as  involved  frivolous  dancing  lessons.  It  is  very  doubtful 
if  there  were  any  musical  instruments  in  New  Utrecht  before  the 
Revolutionary  war  period.  In  1776  a  city  newspaper  mentions  in  an 
advertisement,  "Violins  for  sale,  along  with  frying  pans,  window 
glass,  sewing  goods,  etc." 

James  Rivington,  of  New  York,  also  advertised  in  the  New  York 
Mercury  as  follows,  "For  sale — some  pills,  drops,  cure  for  mad  dogs, 
also  fiddles,  guitars,  tabors,  pipes,  German  flutes,  violincellos  and  most 
kind  of  music.  Orders  would  be  shipped  by  first  boat."  This  was 
during  1773.  Harpsichords  were  advertised  and  sold  during  1768. 
These  instruments  came  from  London.  A  "Grande  Pianoforte"  was 
mentioned  in  Boston  in  1798. 

The  inventor  of  the  first  piano  was  at  Salem,  Mass.  He  copied 
the  model  from  the  old  Nathaniel  Rogers  pianoforte  of  that  place, 
which  then  noted  instrument  had  been  manufactured  at  Cornhill, 
London,  by  Astor  &  Co.  This  John  Jacob  Astor  is  the  ancestor  of 
the  New  York  family  of  that  name  and  the  London  firm  of  Astor  & 
Co.  was  sufficient  guarantee  to  have  on  the  plate  of  a  pianoforte. 

It  is  positively  established  that  New  Utrecht  had  a  spinnet  made 
by  John  Jacob  Astor,  which  instrument  was  undoubtedly  the  first  in 
the  Township.  Mrs.  Benson,  Grandmother  of  Mrs.  John  Franklin 
Berry,  of  Bensonhurst,  now  of  Brooklyn,  was  the  owner  of  the  spinnet. 
It  was  in  the  old  Benson  homestead,  a  landmark  of  the  Township. 
Later  the  spinnet  was  played  by  Mrs.  Berry's  mother,  whom  all  the 

191 


girls  of  New  Utrecht  loved  dearly  and  visited  often  as  possible,  just 
to  hear  her  play  the  spinnet.  Her  daughter,  Mrs.  Berry,  recalls  that 
Miss  Benson,  an  aunt,  gave  the  plate  from  the  spinnet  to  J.  Carson 
Brevoort,  and  there  trace  of  the  old  John  Jacob  Astor  plate  ends. 
The  spinnet,  thus  robbed  of  its  trademark  and  pedigree,  descended  to 
Maria  Cowenhoven  Benson,  Cousin  to  Mrs.  Berry. 

There  was  a  Harpsichord  in  Flatbush,  played  by  a  young  woman 
during  1785.  She  died  in  1786,  aged  24  years. 

Mention  of  a  miniature  being  painted  as  a  work  of  wonderful 
and  pleasing  accomplishment  about  this  time,  would  infer  that  neither 
art  nor  music  were  especially  cultivated  in  that  locality  at  that  time. 
It  was  then  the  exception.  Judging  from  the  personal  recollections  of 
Judge  Charles  W.  Church,  of  Fort  Hamilton,  regarding  the  little 
yellow  schoolhouse  at  Yellow  Hook  (after  1840),  music  was  then 
attempted  in  an  educational  way  among  the  pupils  of  that  particular 
school.  Yet  neither  he  nor  Col.  William  J.  Cropsey  recall  any  rival 
to  old  Tom  Barlow's  violin  music.  Musical  instruments  were  not 
numerous  in  New  Utrecht  nor  was  there  any  church  music  on  a  built 
organ  until  1875.  Then  the  Dutch  Reformed  Church  dedicated  its 
new  instrument. 

The  first  church  organ  in  America  was  built  at  Boston,  by  Edward 
Bromfield,  Jr.,  during  1745.  He  died,  however,  in  1746,  not  entirely 
completing  the  instrument.  It  was  in  the  Episcopal  churches  that 
mention  is  made  of  music.  New  England  congregations  objected  to 
such  worldliness.  As  for  learning  to  sing  by  note,  their  verdict  was 
"The  names  of  the  notes  are  blasphemous."  They  said,  too,  that  if 
they  were  to  be  taught  to  sing  by  rule  it  might  happen  they  would 
be  expected  to  pray  by  rule,  to  which  objections  arose.  Much  con- 
troversy existed. 

Salem,  Mass.,  had  the  first  church  organ,  in  1748.  During  1752 
Christ  Church,  Boston,  had  its  first  organ  built.  It  was  1770  before 
the  Puritans  leaned  toward  church  music  for  services.  In  1785  it  was 
declared  that  church  choirs  in  general  should  be  allowed  to  sit  in 
the  gallery  and  sing,  without  any  "line  reading"  by  the  Deacons. 
This  "Deaconing"  or  lining  out  a  hymn  tune  was  the  cause  of  much 
confusion  in  the  first  church  music  before  notes  were  taught.  It  is 
told  how  one  stray  worshipper  entering  the  church  door  heard  the 
starting  of  a  hymn  tune,  "The  Lord  will  come  but  he  will  not."  His 
astonishment  increased  when  he  heard  the  second  line  read  aloud  by 
the  good  Deacon,  "Hold  your  peace  but  speak  aloud." 

Not  until  1800  did  the  Boston  Conservatory  appear  as  a  musical 
Academy.  Then  ladies  and  gentlemen  were  taught  music.  It  was  no 
longer  considered  a  devilish  art,  to  be  feared  and  pushed  aside.  Sing- 
le^ 


ing  Schools  were  established  during  1772  and  immediately  won  favor. 
One  venerable  farmer  at  Monroe,  Orange  County,  N.  Y.  (Mr.  George 
W.  Thompson),  remembers  well  how  eagerly  the  singing  school  weekly 
lesson  was  looked  forward  to.  He  owned  a  little  parlor  melodeon  and 
as  it  folded  up  into  small  space  he  was  considered  the  important  man 
in  his  locality,  since  his  instrument  was  used  by  the  Teacher.  On 
those  nights  the  milking  was  finished  earlier  than  usual,  the  supper 
cleared  away  in  haste  and  then  all  the  younger  inmates  of  the  farm- 
house, including  the  hired  man,  would  stow  themselves  away  in  the 
wagon  for  the  long  drive  to  "Singin'  School."  There  were  met  all  the 
young  folks  for  miles  around.  The  lesson  was  a  matter  of  strict 
obedience  and  profit  to  each  attendant  there. 

It  was  in  this  manner  that  music  began  to  spread  throughout  the 
settled  districts  of  America.  Singing  by  note  thus  became  the  proper 
thing.  Pianoforte  playing  was  soon  considered  the  finishing  touch 
to  an  education  and  fortunate  the  individual  so  favored.  Then  the 
schools  of  America  adopted  singing  and  notes.  And  so  America 
became  musical  after  long  years  without  any  music. 

Among  all  the  foreign  countries  England  does  not  stand  promi- 
nently forth  as  a  musical  Nation.  Its  cultivation  of  music  under 
Henry  8th,  Queen  Elizabeth  and  James  ist,  was  offset  by  supremacy 
of  Puritan  religious  influences,  which  banished  all  serious  culture. 
With  the  period  of  the  Restoration,  music  as  an  art  was  in  very  bad 
shape.  Puritans  were  taught  to  look  upon  music  as  something  evil 
and  frivolous.  Only  when  the  Clergy  finally  quoted  Bible  lore  for 
Psalm  singing,  did  the  Puritan  admit  that  music  was  commended  by 
God.  During  England's  15th  century,  music  was  so  scarce  that  the 
Government  pressed  musicians  into  service  by  a  warrant.  It  can  be 
thus  understood  how  in  1673  the  Colonies  of  New  Netherland  had 
word  sent  back  to  Holland  by  its  Commissioner  of  Plantations,  "There 
are  no  musicians  by  trade  in  the  whole  Colony." 

Music  in  the  American  Colonies  can  be  said  to  have  been  divided 
into  three  periods: 

1.  Puritan  to  Revolutionary. 

2.  Revolution  to  cessation  of  Puritanism. 

3.  Progress  to  the  present  time. 

It  must  be  remembered  that  the  Puritans  and  the  Pilgrims  were 
a  separate  people,  just  as  the  Dutch  settlers  were.  While  all  these 
first  comers  to  American  shores  had  little  or  no  music  in  their  new 
country,  the  red  man,  whom  they  found  here,  was  all  music.  To  the 
Indian,  everything  was  by  Sound.  He  could  imitate  the  call  of  birds, 
could  play  his  own  made  "flageolet"  or  sing  either  love  song  or  war 

193 


song.  The  Indian  felt  and  so  played  his  music.  Inspiration  came  from 
the  rippling  waters,  or  the  wind  in  the  forest  trees,  or  mayhaps  the 
blue  skies,  or  silver  moon — all  was  nature  to  him  and  he  worshipped 
the  Great  Father.  His  departed  ones  were  thus  reached  by  way  of 
the  music  and  the  Great  Father  who  heard.  In  this  respect  the  red 
man  of  the  forests  stands  supreme  in  his  musical  education  and  con- 
ception. Every  note  or  cadence  of  his  music  had  special  meaning  to 
him.  It  was  his  very  Soul.  With  ear  close  to  the  ground  he  could 
tell  what  no  white  man  was  ever  able  to  even  understand  of  the  forest 
or  meadow  or  stream.  Everything  was  Sound  and  so  Sound  was 
Music.  The  Indian's  music  was,  therefore,  a  part  of  himself  and  of 
wild  nature.  The  music  was  not  then  understood.  To-day  it  is 
coming  into  its  own,  just  as  the  Indian  seems  to  be  doing.  And  with 
American  schools  receiving  and  training  all  the  foreign  musical  talents 
it  cannot  be  long  before  America  must  stand  at  the  head  of  Musical 
Nations  of  the  World. 

In  closing  these  reminiscences  of  New  Utrecht  it  must  be  remem- 
bered that  while  much  has  been  told,  there  is  doubtless  much  that 
has  not  yet  been  told.  For  all  omissions  the  author  begs  forgiveness. 
New  Utrecht,  the  outer  door  for  New  York,  is  rich  in  history  data. 
At  least  its  chief  records  are  saved  in  type,  and  faithful,  careful  work 
has  made  them  correct  as  possible. 


194 


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